Ofori, M.F.Lamptey, H.Dickson, E.K.Kyei-Baafour, E.Hviid, L.2019-07-042019-07-042018-03DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiy168http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/31250Plasmodium falciparum parasites causing placental malaria (PM) express the VAR2CSA type of the clonally variant antigen family PfEMP1. This enables evasion of pre-existing immunity and results in placental accumulation of infected erythrocytes (IEs). We present data on seasonal variation in levels of VAR2CSA-specific IgG and IgG specific for a PM-unrelated PfEMP1 protein among Ghanaian women at first antenatal visit. Our results indicate that PM does not require recent exposure to infected mosquitoes, in contrast to malaria in general. This has implications for the impact of insecticide-treated bed nets on PM incidence, and for antenatal care in woman with pre-existing immunity.enIgGPfEMP1Placental malariaPlasmodium falciparumVAR2CSAArticle