Assessing the Effectiveness of Antimalarial Drugs in Preventing Vertical Transmission of Malaria Parasites and Alleviating Fetal Oxidative Stress |Biomedgrid

Malaria remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in regions with high transmission rates. Vertical transmission, the transfer of malaria parasites from mother to foetus, poses serious risks to newborns, leading to various adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vertical transmission, evaluate the efficacy of antimalarial drugs, and assess the impact of vertical transmission on foetal development. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 pregnant women at Bamenda Regional Hospital and Nkwen District Hospital. Participants' medical records were reviewed to determine the type of antimalarial drug administered. Malaria diagnosis was performed using microscopic examination of thin and thick blood films. After delivery, cord blood was collected for malaria diagnosis and also centrifuged to obtain plasma for the assessment of oxidative stress biomarkers, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidase, total oxidative stress, and total antioxidant defense. The overall prevalence of cord malaria was found to be 8%. Additionally, positive cord cases were associated with preterm delivery (100%) and low birth weight (28.8%). Among the antimalarial drugs, Fansidar demonstrated the highest efficacy (99.2%) for chemoprophylaxis, while the combination of Artesunate and Amodiaquine showed 100% efficacy for chemotherapy. Analysis of oxidative stress biomarkers revealed higher activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase in malaria positive cord blood compared to negative cord blood. Positive cord samples exhibited elevated levels of total oxidative stress and reduced levels of total antioxidant defense compared to negative cord samples. These findings highlight that preventive treatments during pregnancy are not fully effective, leading to vertical transmission and increased oxidative stress in the foetus, resulting in low birth weight. Further research is needed to enhance the effectiveness of preventive interventions and mitigate the adverse consequences of vertical transmission.