Placental antibody transfer: influence of maternal HIV infection and placental malaria.

AIM: To determine the influence of placental malaria, maternal HIV infection, and maternal hypergammaglobulinaemia on transplacental IgG antibody transfer. METHODS: One hundred and eighty materno-neonatal pairs from a Malawian population were assessed. Cord and maternal serum samples were tested for total serum IgG antibody titres using nephelometry, and for specific IgG antibody titres to Streptococcus pneumoniae, measles, and tetanus toxoid antibodies using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses showed that placental malaria was associated with a decrease in placental IgG antibody transfer to S pneumoniae and measles to 82% and 81%, respectively. Maternal HIV infection was associated with a reduction in IgG antibody transfer to S pneumoniae to 79%; raised maternal total serum IgG titres were correlated with S pneumoniae and measles IgG antibody transfer reduction to 86% and 87%, respectively. No effect was seen with tetanus toxoid antibody transfer. CONCLUSION: The combined influence of placental malaria, maternal HIV infection, and maternal hypergammaglobulinaemia seems to be linked to the low transplacental antibody transfer observed in the Malawian population.

Materno-foetal transfer of H. influenzae and pneumococcal antibodies is influenced by prematurity and low birth weight: implications for conjugate vaccine trials.

The influence of prematurity and low birth weight (LBW) on transplacental transfer of Haemophilus influenza type B and Streptococcus pneumoniae antibodies was assessed in 213 mothers and their neonates from Gambia. Paired maternal and cord serum samples were tested for specific IgG antibody titres for H. influenza and S. pneumococcus antigens using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Prematurity and LBW was significantly associated with reduced placental antibody transfer for these antigens.The reduced materno-foetal transfer of these antibodies in this vulnerable population of babies may further predispose them to more bacterial infections. These findings are of practical importance to the vaccination strategies.

The influence of placental malaria infection and maternal hypergammaglobulinemia on transplacental transfer of antibodies and IgG subclasses in a rural West African population.

Two hundred thirteen mother-baby pairs in The Gambia were studied to determine the influence of placental malaria infection and maternal hypergammaglobulinemia on transplacental antibody transfer. Antibody transfer for herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was significantly reduced by placental malaria infection by 69%, 58%, and 55%, respectively. Maternal hypergammaglobulinemia was associated with a significant reduction in antibody transfer for HSV-1, RSV, VZV, and pneumococcus by 89%, 90%, 91%, and 88%, respectively. In addition, placental malaria infection was associated with a significant reduction in transfer of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 (P<.01, P=.01, and P=.03, respectively) but not of IgG3 (P=.59). Maternal hypergammaglobulinemia significantly impaired the transfer of IgG1 and IgG2 (P=.01) but not of IgG3 or IgG4 (P=.62 and P=.59, respectively). Placental malaria infection and maternal hypergammaglobulinemia were associated with reduction in the transplacental transfer of these specific antibodies, IgG1, and IgG2 in this Gambian population.