Diagnosis of placental malaria.
In a group of 596 delivering Ghanaian women, the sensitivities of peripheral blood thick film microscopy, ICT Malaria P.f/P.v test, and PCR in detecting microscopically confirmed placental Plasmodium falciparum infection were 42, 80, and 97%, respectively. In addition to the gross underestimation of placental malaria by peripheral blood film microscopy, submicroscopic infections were found to be a risk factor for maternal anemia.
Mockenhaupt
Frank P
FP
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. frank.mockenhaupt@charite.de
Ulmen
Ulrike
U
von Gaertner
Christiane
C
Bedu-Addo
George
G
Bienzle
Ulrich
U
D000818:Animals; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D008853:Microscopy; D010920:Placenta / Q000469:parasitology*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology