Plasmodium/intestinal helminth co-infections among pregnant Nigerian women

Abstract

(1%). Mothers with Plasmodium infection but without intestinal helminth infection had neonates of higher mean birthweights than those presenting both Plasmodium and intestinal helminth infections and this effect was more pronounced in primigravids. The mean haemoglobin values of malarial mothers with intestinal helminth infections were lower than those withPlasmodium infection but without intestinal helminth infections but these were not statistically significant. Severe splenomegaly was predominant among parasitaemic gravidae who also harboured S. mansoni infection in two of the hospitals studied.

Birthweight in Offspring of Mothers with High Prevalence of Helminth and Malaria Infection in Coastal Kenya

“…[13][14][15] These data are consistent with those of recent studies in sub-Saharan Africa. 5,6 Another important outcome to draw from this data is the high percentage of infants born with LBW and a low WZS.…”

“…11,12 Furthermore, co-infection with malaria and helminths has been found to be an important factor in adverse birth outcomes. 13,14 However, studies of helminth infections during pregnancy and of the benefits of treating pregnant women are still few in number and have shown mixed results. 6,15,16 The consensus is now shifting to giving pregnant women anti-helminth treatment because of apparent safety after years of inadvertent doses given to women unknowingly pregnant.…”

Passive surveillance of communicable diseases among inmates of Jos central prison, Nigeria

“…Previous reports have described Nigeria as hyperendemic for soiltransmitted helminthes. 38,39 The low prevalence of S. stercoralis among the prison inmates is surprising and suggests that strongyloidiasis is not a major problem in the prison, even though prisoners have been recognized as people at high risk of acquiring the disease. 40 The difficulty in diagnosing uncomplicated cases of strongyloidasis due to low worm load 40 may be partly responsible for the observed low prevalence.…”

Altered cord blood γδ T cell repertoire in Nigeria: Possible impacts of environmental factors on neonatal immunity

“…First, malaria prevalence is high in Jos (Egwunyenga et al, 2001;Egwunyenga et al, 1997). Second, malaria has documented effects on adult γδ T cells, including expansion of peripheral blood subsets for endemic infections (Hviid et al, 2001;Worku et al, 1997) and specific depletion of Vγ2Jγ1.2 cells in naïve individuals (traveler's malaria) (Martini et al, 2003); fetuses are immunologically naïve and plasmodia exposure might have an impact similar to infection of naïve adults.…”

“…Malaria is endemic in Nigeria and prevalence among pregnant women in Jos was reported to be approximately 40% (Egwunyenga et al, 2001;Egwunyenga et al, 1997). In other areas of Nigeria, between 70 and 80% of pregnant women were positive for Plasmodium even in the absence of symptoms (Onyenekwe et al, 2002).…”