Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Objectives: To compare the neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility of infants born to mothers infected or uninfected with malaria at the time of delivery. Methods: A cohort of 388 mother–child pairs was recruited at delivery. Maternal malaria was assessed by microscopy at birth, and infant malar...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225001511 |
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| author | Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo Lise Kuseke Thierry Kalonji Patrick Mitashi Aimée Mupuala Kassoum Kayentao Trésor Zola Matuvanga Vivi Maketa Tevuzula Yann Kafala Henk D.F.H. Schallig Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko Petra F. Mens |
| author_facet | Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo Lise Kuseke Thierry Kalonji Patrick Mitashi Aimée Mupuala Kassoum Kayentao Trésor Zola Matuvanga Vivi Maketa Tevuzula Yann Kafala Henk D.F.H. Schallig Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko Petra F. Mens |
| author_sort | Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: To compare the neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility of infants born to mothers infected or uninfected with malaria at the time of delivery. Methods: A cohort of 388 mother–child pairs was recruited at delivery. Maternal malaria was assessed by microscopy at birth, and infant malaria was based on a history of fever. Infant neurodevelopment was evaluated at 4-6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), which include scores for gross motor (GM), and early learning composite (ELC). Infant malaria incidence and neurological functioning were compared based on malaria exposure at delivery. Results: In total, 62/385 (16.1%) infants were exposed to malaria at delivery, confirmed by microscopy for both peripheral and placental malaria. These exposed infants had a significantly lower birth weight (LBW) (2824.68 ± 493.85 g) than those born of uninfected mothers (3032.69 ± 487.8 g; p = 0.0023). GM at 12 months showed no significant differences between groups (mean GM score for exposed: 47.2 ± 9.8 vs unexposed: 47.6 ± 9.7; p = 0.757). However, infants exposed to malaria infection had significantly lower ECL (−7.70 [95% confidence interval {CI}: −15.0, −0.36]; P = 0.04). Infant malaria, malnutrition, and LBW were significantly associated with reduced GM scores (−1.2 [95% CI: −2.25, −0.18], P = 0.021; −0.96 [95% CI: −1.92, −0.02], and −1.59 [95% CI: −3.06, −0.11], respectively). Malaria incidence peaked at 12 months, affecting 54.7% of the exposed group vs 70.6% of non-exposed infants (risk ratio = 1.04 [95% CI: 0.87-1.25], P = 0.631). Conclusions: Malaria at delivery was associated with impaired ELC but not with GM. Malaria susceptibility during the first 12 months was not influenced by maternal malaria exposure. However, LBW, malnutrition and infant malaria impacted infant development. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0b2b9bab3eed4ae5809b4852f51bbe62 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1201-9712 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-0b2b9bab3eed4ae5809b4852f51bbe622025-08-20T03:07:19ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122025-08-0115710792710.1016/j.ijid.2025.107927Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the CongoJaphet Kabalu Tshiongo0Lise Kuseke1Thierry Kalonji2Patrick Mitashi3Aimée Mupuala4Kassoum Kayentao5Trésor Zola Matuvanga6Vivi Maketa Tevuzula7Yann Kafala8Henk D.F.H. Schallig9Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko10Petra F. Mens11Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Laboratory for Experimental Parasitology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Corresponding author: (J. K. Tshiongo).Department of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoProgramme National de Lutte Contre le Mpox et les Fièvres Hémorragiques Virales, Ministère de la Santé (PNLMPX-FHV), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoMalaria Research and Training Center (MRTC), University of Sciences of Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, MaliDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoAmsterdam University Medical Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Laboratory for Experimental Parasitology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Tropical Medicine, University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoAmsterdam University Medical Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Laboratory for Experimental Parasitology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsObjectives: To compare the neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility of infants born to mothers infected or uninfected with malaria at the time of delivery. Methods: A cohort of 388 mother–child pairs was recruited at delivery. Maternal malaria was assessed by microscopy at birth, and infant malaria was based on a history of fever. Infant neurodevelopment was evaluated at 4-6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), which include scores for gross motor (GM), and early learning composite (ELC). Infant malaria incidence and neurological functioning were compared based on malaria exposure at delivery. Results: In total, 62/385 (16.1%) infants were exposed to malaria at delivery, confirmed by microscopy for both peripheral and placental malaria. These exposed infants had a significantly lower birth weight (LBW) (2824.68 ± 493.85 g) than those born of uninfected mothers (3032.69 ± 487.8 g; p = 0.0023). GM at 12 months showed no significant differences between groups (mean GM score for exposed: 47.2 ± 9.8 vs unexposed: 47.6 ± 9.7; p = 0.757). However, infants exposed to malaria infection had significantly lower ECL (−7.70 [95% confidence interval {CI}: −15.0, −0.36]; P = 0.04). Infant malaria, malnutrition, and LBW were significantly associated with reduced GM scores (−1.2 [95% CI: −2.25, −0.18], P = 0.021; −0.96 [95% CI: −1.92, −0.02], and −1.59 [95% CI: −3.06, −0.11], respectively). Malaria incidence peaked at 12 months, affecting 54.7% of the exposed group vs 70.6% of non-exposed infants (risk ratio = 1.04 [95% CI: 0.87-1.25], P = 0.631). Conclusions: Malaria at delivery was associated with impaired ELC but not with GM. Malaria susceptibility during the first 12 months was not influenced by maternal malaria exposure. However, LBW, malnutrition and infant malaria impacted infant development.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225001511Maternal malariaNeurodevelopmentInfantMalaria incidenceDemocratic Republic of the Congo |
| spellingShingle | Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo Lise Kuseke Thierry Kalonji Patrick Mitashi Aimée Mupuala Kassoum Kayentao Trésor Zola Matuvanga Vivi Maketa Tevuzula Yann Kafala Henk D.F.H. Schallig Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko Petra F. Mens Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo International Journal of Infectious Diseases Maternal malaria Neurodevelopment Infant Malaria incidence Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title | Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full | Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_fullStr | Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_short | Impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| title_sort | impact of malaria in pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment and malaria susceptibility during the first year of life in kinshasa the democratic republic of the congo |
| topic | Maternal malaria Neurodevelopment Infant Malaria incidence Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971225001511 |
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