AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, July 11, 2005
Staff Medical Writers

"Young infants are protected from measles infection by maternal measles antibodies. The level of these antibodies at birth depends on the level of antibodies in the mother and the extent of placental transfer," researchers in England report.

"We investigated predictors of levels of measles antibodies in newborns in rural Kenya. A total of 747 paired maternal-cord serum samples (91 from human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]-infected and 656 from HIV-uninfected mothers) were tested for measles immunoglobulin G antibodies.

"Placental malaria infection was determined by biopsy. Data on pregnancy history, gestational age, and anthropometric and socioeconomic status were collected," wrote S. Scott and colleagues at the University of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

"Infants born to HIV-infected mothers were more likely (odds ratio, 4.6 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.2-9.7]) to be seronegative and had 35.1% (95% CI, 9.8-53.2%) lower levels of measles antibodies than did those born to HIV-uninfected mothers.

"Preterm delivery, early maternal age, and ethnic group were also associated with reduced levels of measles antibodies. There was little evidence that placental malaria infection was associated with levels of measles antibodies in newborns," said the scientists.

The authors concluded, "Our results suggest that maternal HIV infection may reduce levels of measles antibodies in newborns. Low levels of measles antibodies at birth render children susceptible to measles infection at an early age.

"This is of concern in sub-Saharan African countries, where not only the prevalence of HIV high, but measles is is the cause of much morbidity and mortality."

Scott and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases (Neonatal measles immunity in rural Kenya: The influence of HIV and placental malaria infections on placental transfer of antibodies and levels of antibody in maternal and cord serum samples. J Infect Dis. 2005 Jun 1;191(11):1854-60.

For additional information, contact S. Scott, University of London London School Hyg & Trop Med, Dept. Infection & Tropical Disease, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT, England.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Infectious Diseases is: University Chicago Press, 1427 E 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637-2954, USA.

Keywords: London, England, HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Measles, Mother-to-Child Transmission, Antibodies.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Scott S, Cumberland P, Shulman CE, et al., Neonatal measles immunity in rural Kenya: the influence of HIV and placental malaria infections on placental transfer of antibodies and levels of antibody in maternal and cord serum samples, J Infect Dis. 2005 Jun 1;191(11):1854-60.

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