Objective:

To assess transplacental transfer of malaria antibodies, factors associated with reduced transfer, and identify knowledge gaps for future research.

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Pooled prevalence of peripheral malaria in mothers was 31.27% and placental malaria was 30.65%.
• Pooled prevalence of malaria in newborns was 9.53%.
• IgG1 and IgG3 were the predominant subclasses that transferred efficiently.
• IgG against circumsporozoite protein transferred more effectively than against merozoite surface protein 3.
• Factors associated with reduced antibody transfer included HIV infection, placental malaria, hypergammaglobulinemia, low birth weight, and primigravida.

Interpretation:

Maternal transfer of antibodies against malaria is dependent on IgG subclass and antigen type.

Limitations:

• Limited to published articles, which may not capture all relevant data.
• Potential biases in the included studies could affect the results.

Conclusion:

Vaccination strategies that enhance transplacental transfer in pregnant women may improve protection for newborns against severe malaria.

Sources:

• Systematic Review Registration
Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.