Malarial immunity in pregnant Nigerian women and their newborn

The levels of malarial fluorescent antibody titers (MFAT) were estimated throughout pregnancy and at delivery in 20 urban Nigerian primigravidas who received malarial chemoprophylaxis. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) fall in the MFAT levels as pregnancy progressed. The mean logarithmic MFAT levels were 2.8664 +/- 0.3326 and 2.2794 +/- 0.1656 in the first and last trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. The MFAT level in the newborn was positively correlated to the maternal MFAT level at delivery (r = 0.9468; p < 0.001). If malarial prophylactics are used for a prolonged period, the maternal MFAT level will fall, leaving newborns with lowered immunity to malaria.