Le Hesran Jean-Yves auteur aut IRD Cot Michel auteur aut IRD Personne P. auteur aut IRD Fievet Nadine auteur aut IRD Dubois B. auteur aut IRD Beyemé M. auteur aut IRD Boudin Christian auteur aut IRD Deloron Philippe auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access In areas endemic for malaria, pregnant women frequently present with a placenta that has been parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum, an infection associated with a reduction in the birth weight of the offspring. However, the impact of placental infection on malaria-related morbidity during the infant's first year of life has not been investigated. Between 1993 and 1995, 197 children in southern Cameroon were followed weekly clinically and monthly parasitologically. The dates of first positive blood smear and the evolution of the parasite prevalence rates were compared between infants born to mothers presenting with (n = 42) and without (n = 155) P. falciparum infection of the placenta. Infants born to placenta-infected mothers were more likely to develop a malaria infection between 4 and 6 months of age; then the difference progressively disappeared. Similarly, parasite prevalence rates were higher in placenta-infected infants from 5 to 8 months of age. Thus, malarial infection of the placenta seems to result in a higher susceptibility of infants to the parasite. This was not related to maternally transmitted antibodies, as specific antibody levels were similar in both groups of infants. A better understanding of the involved mechanisms may have important implications for the development of malaria control strategies. (Résumé d'auteur) specialized PALUDISME TRANSMISSION NOUVEAU NE NOURRISSON MORTALITE INFANTILE PLACENTA 052ANOPAL03 146 10 826-831 1997 0002-9262 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010012146 0002-9262 [F B010012146] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010012146 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_6/b_fdi_47-48/010012146.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 1997-12-08 2017-08-07 fdi:010012146 fre