The Placenta and Plasmodium Infections: a Case Study from Blue Nile State, Sudan

Sequestration of Plasmodium-infected cells in the placenta causes significant adverse effects on mothers and their fetuses. With progress in understanding placental malaria and associated adverse consequences, this review addresses the situation in an area with high prevalence, in Blue Nile State, Sudan, where protective interventions are not adequately provided. Several studies have confirmed that malaria infection during pregnancy with parasites in the placenta, even at sub-patent level detected by molecular techniques, can result in maternal morbidity, fetal growth restriction, and reduced birth weight. Thus, malaria protection measures and antenatal care are vital for pregnant women in endemic areas. Falciparum and vivax-infected erythrocytes are able to sequester in the placenta and not easily detected in peripheral blood during antenatal period. Recently, several biological biomarkers associated with malaria infection during pregnancy were detected. Such biomarkers could be used as indicators for identifying women at risk of placental infection complications, particularly when pre-eclampsia may occur.