Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

The placenta and malaria

A Matteelli¹, S Caligaris, F Castelli

¹Clinic of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Italy.

Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology

|June 17, 1998

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Response to the Union's statement on ongoing conflicts and impact on health services.

IJTLD open·2026

Same author

Test-retest reliability of TMS motor evoked responses and silent periods during explosive voluntary isometric contractions.

European journal of applied physiology·2025

Same author

Cascade of care for TB infection in persons newly diagnosed with HIV in Italy.

The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease·2024

Same author

TB prevention activities in the WHO European Region.

IJTLD open·2024

Same author

Positronium Laser Cooling via the 1^{3}S-2^{3}P Transition with a Broadband Laser Pulse.

Physical review letters·2024

Same author

Drugs for treating infections caused by non-tubercular mycobacteria: a narrative review from the study group on mycobacteria of the Italian Society of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine.

Infection·2024

Same journal

Some observations upon the maintenance of Australorbis glabratus in the laboratory.

Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology·2014

Same journal

A new species of Phlebotomus (Diptera, Psychodidae) from Uganda.

Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology·2014

Same journal

The length of exposure to infestation and the danger of contracting onchocerciasis.

Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology·2014

Same journal

Observations on Chrysops silacea and C. dimidiata at Benin, Southern Nigeria. II.

Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology·2014

Same journal

Embryonated eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides in the wall of a human hernial sac.

Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology·2014

Same journal

Studies in the chemotherapy of cholera. VI. Protection by pteridines of mice infected with Vibrio cholerae.

Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology·2014

See all related articles

Placental malaria, common in pregnancy, involves Plasmodium falciparum sequestering in the placenta. This complication leads to low birthweight and increased infant mortality, highlighting the need for effective interventions.

Area of Science:

Obstetrics and Gynecology
Infectious Diseases
Immunology

Background:

Placental malaria is a frequent complication of malaria during pregnancy, especially in primigravidae in stable transmission zones.
Parasite sequestration in the placenta is hypothesized to result from immune system failures.
Specific Plasmodium falciparum subpopulations adhere to and accumulate within the placenta.

Purpose of the Study:

To review hypotheses explaining parasite preference for placental sequestration.
To focus on the discovery of Plasmodium falciparum subpopulations that adhere and sequester in the placenta.
To understand the mechanisms of placental changes and impaired materno-foetal exchange.

Main Methods:

Review of existing hypotheses on placental malaria.

Related Experiment Videos

Focus on the identification of sequestering Plasmodium falciparum subpopulations.

Histological analysis of placental tissues to characterize pathological changes.

Main Results:

Placental malaria is characterized by parasite and leukocyte presence, pigment deposition, fibrin, and trophoblast proliferation.
Leukocytes, not parasites directly, may cause placental pathology via cytokine production and mechanical blockage.
Epidemiological data confirm placental malaria causes low birthweight and increases infant mortality risk.

Conclusions:

Antimalarial chemoprophylaxis effectively reduces placental malaria and low birthweight.
Understanding placental malaria mechanisms is crucial for developing effective interventions during pregnancy.
The placenta is a critical site for maternal malaria's adverse effects.