CGPH FACULTY: Desire Labeaud
DATE OF PUBLICATION: January 2015
REGION: Africa
REFERENCE: Malhotra I, McKibben M, Mungai P, McKibben E, Wang X, Sutherland LJ, Muchiri EM, King CH, King CL, LaBeaud AD. Effect of Antenatal Parasitic Infections on Anti-vaccine IgG Levels in Children: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study in Kenya. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Jan 15;9(1):e0003466. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003466. eCollection 2015 Jan.
SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: Parasitic infections are prevalent among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated whether prenatal exposure to malaria and/or helminths affects the pattern of infant immune responses to standard vaccinations against Haemophilus influenzae (Hib), diphtheria (DT), hepatitis B (Hep B) and tetanus toxoid (TT). There is an impaired ability to develop IgG antibody responses to key protective antigens of Hib and diphtheria in infants of mothers infected with malaria and/or helminths during pregnancy. These findings highlight the importance of control and prevention of parasitic infections among pregnant women.
ACCESS: Link to Pubmed