Placental malaria is associated with which effect on maternal antibodies?

• A. Reduced transplacental transmission of maternal antibodies
• B. Increased transplacental transmission
• C. No change in transfer
• D. Accelerated antibody maturation

Answer: (A)

Placental malaria disrupts the placental environment in a way that hinders the normal transfer of maternal IgG antibodies to the fetus. Maternal antibodies reach the fetus mainly through FcRn-mediated transcytosis across the syncytiotrophoblast. In placental malaria, inflammation and sequestration of parasites damage placental structure and function, reducing the efficiency of this IgG transport. The result is lower levels of maternally derived antibodies in newborns, weakening passive immunity in early life. The other options don’t fit with how placental pathology affects the transfer mechanism, and accelerated antibody maturation isn’t driven by this placental disturbance.