Antibodies to Pf155/RESA and circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum in paired maternal‐cord sera from Nigeria

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Abstract
Summary: Paired maternal‐cord serum samples were analysed for antibodies to the P/155/RESA and circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antigens of Plasmodium falciparum. Malaria parasites were found in 2–6% (3/117) of cord blood and 22–4% (26/116) of maternal samples. Immunofluorescence assays detected P. falciparum‐specific IgG antibodies in all paired samples while P. falciparum‐specific IgM was detected in 5–8% (7/121) of cord samples. The positivity rates for antibodies to Pfl55/ RESA and (NANP)6 but not (EENV)6, a C‐terminal repeat sequence of Pf155/REAS, were significantly higher in maternal as compared with cord samples. Seropositivity rates to Pf155/RESA and (EENV)6 were not related to maternal parity group while positivity rates to the (NANP)6 peptide were higher in primiparae and multi‐par ae of 4 parity. These data confirm the transplacental transfer of P. falciparum‐Specific antibodies and the higher incidence of malaria parasitaemia in primiparae. The presence of P. falciparum‐.specific IgM in some cord samples suggests intrauterine sensitization of the foetus to malarial antigens.