Histopathological Methods for Examination and assessment of Placental Tissues for the Presence of Malaria Parasites

Abstract

This is a descriptive study, conducted in National health laboratory and Sudan University of Science and Technology, during the period from November 2009 to October 2010. The study aimed to detect the malaria parasite in placenta specimen by using histological technique among women live in endemic area and to verify the association between placenta malaria & low birth weight. One hundred placenta specimen were collected from women (their ages ranged between 17 to 39 years) . The selected group women live in malaria endemic area. The placenta section were prepared, fixed and stained using Giemsa , Haematoxylin and Eosin staining technique then examined under the light microscope. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS computer program. The histological assessment among study population revealed the following findings; Placental histology showed active malaria infections (parasites present with absent pigment deposition ) in 2% and chronic infections (parasites present with amount of pigment ) in 2% women; 28% of the placentas revealed past infection (presence of pigment without parasites) and 68% indicated no infection. Although plasmodium is was present in ‫‪32% of placenta tissue parasite have been found only in 10% in the‬‬ ‫‪peripheral blood that means placental histopathology is more sensitive‬‬ ‫‪than blood film. Also the study showed no significant association‬‬ ‫‪between placental malaria infections and maternal age and education‬‬ ‫‪level. 99% of these pregnancy outcomes resulted in low birth-weight‬‬ ‫‪babies. There was significant association between placental malaria and‬‬ ‫‪low birth weight (P = 0.000). In the other hand the study found the‬‬ ‫‪malarial effect occurred the throughout gestational 35 -39 weeks‬‬