Prevention of malaria-induced foetal abnormalities following immunization of mice with Plasmodium berghei merozoite antigen.

ABSTRACT

Pre-pregnancy immunization of Swiss albino mice with merozoite antigen of P. berghei entrapped in multilamellar phosphatidyl choline liposomes resulted in (i) increased prepatent period, (ii) either no or low parasitaemic levels, (iii) reduced mortality, and (iv) normal foetal and placental development, upon challenge with P. berghei on 13th gestational day. The unimmunized animals which received either phosphate buffered saline or empty multilamellar phosphatidyl choline liposomes before pregnancy developed high parasitaemic and 30-40 per cent animals died before parturition while 60-70 per cent unimmunized animals revealed foetal abnormalities such as low body weight and larger spleen size. Placentae of unprotected animals had hyperplasia of trophoblastic membrane and plugging of placental sinusoids with parasitized erythrocytes and malarial pigments. The data suggest that prior immunization of animals with merozoite antigen entrapped in multilamellar phosphatidyl choline liposomes could abrogate the ill effects induced by malaria infection under the stress of pregnancy.