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Wistar rat-Plasmodium berghei model does not approximate human congenital malaria
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
The Journal of Parasitology
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Congenital malaria transmission is rare in Wistar rats, with limited placental passage observed. The Plasmodium berghei rodent model is not suitable for studying congenital malaria, despite its use in gestational malaria research.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Maternal-fetal medicine
- Animal models
Background:
- Congenital malaria, previously considered rare, is increasingly reported in newborns.
- The mechanisms of Plasmodium transplacental transmission remain poorly understood.
- A validated animal model for congenital malaria is currently lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of a Wistar rat-Plasmodium berghei model for studying congenital malaria.
- To investigate the potential for transplacental transmission of malaria parasites in rats.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats were infected with Plasmodium berghei at various stages relative to conception and gestation.
- Maternal and neonatal blood samples were analyzed for Plasmodium parasitemia.
- Fetal and pup parasitemia were assessed at different gestational time points.
Main Results:
- Infection prior to conception did not result in parasitemic offspring.
- Maternal infection on day 5 of gestation led to fetal parasitemia and maternal mortality.
- Infections later in gestation (days 9-14) and reinfections did not yield parasitemic pups.
- Transplacental passage of Plasmodium occurred rarely in this rat model.
Conclusions:
- The Wistar rat-Plasmodium berghei model is not effective for studying congenital malaria.
- While transplacental malaria transmission can occur in rats, the model's limitations hinder its application for congenital malaria research.