@article{fdi:010074315,
  title = {{D}ynamics of {P}lasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage in pregnant women under intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in {B}enin},
  author = {{G}uemouri, {S}ayeh and {D}hiab, {J}. and {M}assougbodji, {A}. and {D}eloron, {P}hilippe and {T}uikue {N}dam, {N}icaise},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground: {I}n sub-{S}aharan {A}frica, malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, in particular in children and pregnant women. {D}uring pregnancy, {P}lasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells expressing {VAR}2{CSA} are selected from circulation by selective cytoadherence to chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan receptors expressed in the placenta, leading to an increased susceptibility to malaria, long-lasting infections and poor pregnancy outcome. {P}artly because of these long-lasting infections, women were reported to have a higher density of gametocytes in their peripheral blood, and are considered as a potential reservoir for malaria transmission. {T}o improve pregnancy outcome in areas of high malaria transmission, {T}he {WHO} recommends intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine ({IPT}p-{SP}) during antenatal care visits. {T}he effect of {IPT}p-{SP} on gametocyte carriage in infected pregnant women was studied. {M}ethods: {T}he levels of transcription of three gametocytes stage-specific genes {P}fs16 (expressed by sexually-committed ring stage parasites and fully matured gametocytes), {P}fs25 (expressed by female mature gametocytes) and {P}fs230 (expressed by male mature gametocytes) were assessed by real-time {PCR} in 50 {P}. falciparum infected women at early pregnancy (before implementation of {IPT}p-{SP}), and in 50 infected women at delivery. {S}ex ratios of male and female gametocytes were determined in these women to assess the effect of {IPT}p-{SP} on the gametocyte populations. {R}esults: {T}he data show that the three transcript types specific to {P}fs16, {P}fs25 and {P}fs230 were detected in all samples, both at inclusion and delivery. {L}evels of {P}fs25 and {P}fs230 transcripts were higher at delivery than at inclusion (p = 0.042 and p = 0.003), while the opposite was observed for {P}fs16 (p = 0.048). {T}he ratio of male/female gametocyte transcript levels was higher at delivery than at inclusion (p = 0.018). {S}ince a mixed gender late stage gametocyte culture was used as a positive control, male and female gametocytes could not be quantified in an absolute way in the samples. {H}owever, the amplification reliability of the {P}fs25 and {P}fs230 markers in the samples could be checked. {A} relative quantity of each type of {P}fs transcript was, therefore, used to calculate the sex ratio proxy. {C}onclusion: {T}his study demonstrates that {IPT}p-{SP} treatment contributes to modify the parasite populations' structure during pregnancy. {I}n line with previous studies, we suggest that the continued use of {SP} in pregnant women as {IPT}p, despite having a beneficial effect on the pregnancy outcome, could be a risk factor for increased transmission. {T}his reinforces the need for an alternative to the {SP} drug for malaria prevention during pregnancy.},
  keywords = {{P}regnant women ; {M}alaria ; {P}lasmodium falciparum ; {I}ntermittent preventive treatment ; {G}ametocytes ; {M}alaria transmission ; {BENIN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{M}alaria {J}ournal},
  volume = {17},
  numero = {},
  pages = {art. 356 [9 p.]},
  ISSN = {1475-2875},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1186/s12936-018-2498-8},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010074315},
}