Congenital malaria: an African survey

Even in malaria-endemic areas, congenital malaria has been considered to be rare. Some recent reports suggest, however, that up to one fourth of newborns in some areas may be parasitemic. In an effort to determine current prevalence rates of congenital malaria, malaria smears were done on peripheral blood from 100 peripartum mothers and on cord blood from their offspring at each of seven sites spanning sub-Saharan Africa. The prevalence rate of maternal parasitemia was 15% overall and varied from 4% to 30% at the different sites. Congenital malarial infection was found in 7% of newborns, the prevalence rate varying from 0% to 23% at the different sites. There was no apparent relationship between the season of sampling and either the prevalence rates of parasitemia or the penetrance of malaria from mother to offspring. In summary, congenital malarial infection is not rare in sub-Saharan Africa, but the prevalence rate of neonatal parasitemia varies from site to site.