Challenging diagnosis of congenital malaria in non-endemic areas

Congenital malaria is usually defined as the detection of asexual forms of Plasmodium spp. in a blood sample of a neonate during the first week of life or later if there is no possibility of postpartum infection by a mosquito bite (out of malaria endemic area) [1]. Congenital malaria can be acquired by transmission of parasites from the mother to child during pregnancy or perinatally during labour [2]. Congenital malaria in endemic countries is considered a rare condition due to the protective factors as the protection supplied by the placenta, the passive transfer of maternal antibodies [3] and the protective effect of fetal haemoglobin [4, 5]. The incidence of congenital malaria is highly variable. The literature reported an incidence between 7 and 33% in endemic area [6, 7] with an apparent increasing rate during the last years as result of rising drug resistance, increasing virulence of the parasite, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection [7, 8]. The high variability seems related to several factors such as the different diagnostic methods and sampling (cord blood vs peripheral blood) used to detect Plasmodium spp., and the area in which the epidemiologic analyses are performed [6, 9]. In non-endemic countries, cases of congenital malaria are rare: in Europe only one case of congenital Plasmodium falciparum malaria was reported in 2014 [10]; in the USA only 81 cases of congenital malaria were identified between the years 1966 and 2005 [11]. Hereby, the case of a congenital malaria in an HIV-exposed child is reported.

A 2-month-old male child was admitted to the Academic Department of Pediatrics of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (BGCH) due to anaemia and exposure to HIV. He was born prematurely in Italy by cesarean section at 34 weeks’ gestation after a bicorial, biamniotic pregnancy with birth weight of 2.080 kg. He was the first of non-identical twins. The mother was a 30-year-old migrant woman from Nigeria, who arrived in Italy at 27 weeks gestation. At presentation, she tested seropositive for HIV and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and started antiretroviral therapy. Her absolute lymphocyte count was 1410/µl; CD4 count and the HIV viral load were not reported in the documentation received from the Hospital where the mother was admitted in emergency when she arrived in Italy.

The twins were tested for HIV at birth with PCR for HIV-RNA searching. The female twin was positive for HIV and CMV infection, while the male twin was HIV negative at birth and treated with zidovudin as post-exposure prophylaxis for 6 weeks. TORCH screening (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex), abdominal and cerebral ultrasounds were performed to exclude other congenital infections on both twins. A week before admission at our Department the male twin was admitted to another hospital due to anaemia (Hb 5.1 g/dl), hence receiving a blood transfusion. On initial evaluation at BGCH, he was in good general condition, weighed 3.910 kg, with temperature of 36.5 °C, heart rate of 135 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 35 for minute. His abdomen was soft, the liver was palpable 4 cm below the right costal margin. The findings of the rest of the examination were unremarkable.

Laboratory tests at the admission, after a week from the first blood transfusion, revealed a leukocyte count of 12.000/mm³; a haemoglobin (Hb) level of 9.1 g/dl; a platelet count of 198.000/mm³ and a reticulocyte count of 169.000/mm³. His bilirubin level was 1.31 g/dl with direct bilirubin of 0.64 mg/dl; lactate dehydrogenase level of 945 UI/L and normal renal and liver function values.

During hospitalization, a progressive decrease of Hb levels to 6.8 g/dl was observed, therefore, requiring additional blood transfusions. Causes of haemolytic anaemia and blood loss were excluded, due to persistently high reticulocyte count; also, direct and indirect Coombs and faecal occult blood tests were performed, resulting all of which were negative. Haemoglobin electrophoresis was also performed, although in the presence of blood transfusions, to exclude hereditary haemoglobinopathies. A subsequent physical examination was then performed, revealing an increase of spleen enlargement, also confirmed by ultrasound examination. A diagnostic of malaria was then considered.

Because of the infants’ age and the origin of the mother who came from an endemic area for malaria, the malaria panel provided in BGCH was performed on twins and mother’s blood. The panel included the following routine algorithm: (i) Rapid diagnostic test (RDT); (ii) microscopy of Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood smears for Plasmodium spp. identification (ID) and parasitaemia index assigned by two independent microscopists; (iii) molecular screening and typing of Plasmodium spp. by an end-point multiplex qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.

The RDT, based on either Plasmodium spp. lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) and P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) antigens, was performed by using SD Bioline Malaria Antigen P.f/Pan (Standard Diagnostic), whose performance is periodically monitored by the World Health Organization Malaria Control Programmes [12].

Briefly, about PCR assay, DNA was extracted from 200 μl of EDTA blood with the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN) and 5 μl of each DNA sample were probed with the 18S rRNA gene target of the multiplex PCR STAT-NAT Malaria Screening and Typing (Sentinel-Diagnostics). PCR products were visualized using 2.2% agarose (Lonza FlashGel^®System) and a UV trans-illuminator BioRad.

The RDT for Plasmodium spp. was negative for mother and female infant specimens, while male infant resulted positive (Fig. 1). PCR analysis confirmed a positive result for mother and male twin, revealing a P. falciparum infection, while samples from the other twin were consistently negative with both techniques (Figs. 2, 3). Thick and thin blood films stained by Giemsa revealed trophozoite forms of P. falciparum with parasitaemia index of 1% for the male infant and < 1% for the mother. The RBCs of the mother infected with malarial parasites were of normal size and poly-parasitized by trophozoites (Fig. 4).

Genotyping of Plasmodium spp. isolates was carried out to identify infectious clones in both mother and infant. The genotyping was performed by amplification of a neutral microsatellite marker (MS-TA109) [13] and four highly polymorphic markers: P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (Pfmsp1) and its allelic subfamilies (K1, RO33, MAD20) [14], P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 2 (Pfmsp2) and its allelic subfamilies (3D7, FC27) [14], P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (Pfhrp2) and t P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 3 (Pfhrp3) [15]. For allele detections, PCR was done in a 25 μl PCR mixture containing 10 μl of extracted DNA, 1× of MgCl₂ free buffer Fast Start Roche, 2 mM of MgCl₂, 200 μM of dNTPs, 10 μM of each primer and 0.25 U of FastStart Taq polymerase Roche. The cycling conditions for Pfmsp1 were as follows: denaturation at 95 °C for 5 min, followed by 45 cycles at 94 °C for 30 min, annealing at 47 °C for 45 s and extension at 72 °C for 1.5 min and a final extension at 72 °C for 5 min. The cycling conditions for Pfmsp1/Pfmsp2 families were: 95 °C for 5 min followed by 45 cycles at 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 45 s, 72 °C for 1.5 min, and a final extension at 72 °C for 5 min. The Pfhrp3 gene, FC27, K1 and TA109 microsatellites were amplified as described in Menegon et al. and Anderson et al. [13, 16]. The amplification products were analysed using a high-resolution capillary electrophoresis (QIAxcel Advanced system, Qiagen).

Genotypic characterization of P. falciparum isolates showed the presence of a single isolate in each of the analysed blood samples. All five P. falciparum polymorphic markers were genotyped for isolate present in the newborn’s infection, whereas only four markers (Ta109, Pfmsp1, Pfmsp2 and Pfhrp3) were successfully amplified for the maternal isolate. Both isolates belonged to the K1 and the FC27 allelic subfamilies. The comparison of allelic profiles, based on length polymorphism of analysed markers, showed dissimilar size alleles for two molecular markers, Pfmsp2 and Pfhrp3, indicating that two different parasite isolates were present in the mother and child at the time of blood collection, 2 month after delivery. Moreover, the amplification failure of Pfhrp2 gene in the maternal sample was presumable due to the hrp2—deletion in the isolate infecting the mother (Fig. 5).

This is the third case of congenital malaria ensued in a HIV-infected mother in a non-endemic country [11, 17]. A review of congenital malaria cases in non-endemic country, by referring to a period spanning the last 40 years was included. The database mined for data searching was PubMed and the keywords used were “congenital malaria cases” and “non-endemic countries”. The selected language was English. Congenital malaria is a rare disease in both non-endemic [10, 18] and endemic areas, the latter characterized by an incidence corresponding to 0.3–37% [19]. Among the 37 cases of congenital malaria in non-endemic country reported in the last 40 years, 21 (58%) were caused by Plasmodium vivax, including 1 in combination with Plasmodium malariae and 1 with P. falciparum; 8 by P. falciparum (22%); three cases caused by P. malariae and 2 by Plasmodium ovale (Table 1). Congenital malaria results from transplacental passage of parasites, which infect the infant in utero, or during delivery. Different mechanisms have been postulated: maternal transfusion into the fetal circulation, direct penetration of parasite through the chorionic villi or through premature separation of placenta [1]. Rarely, maternal history of malaria may not be reported and, therefore, it cannot be considered as a criterion for the diagnosis of congenital malaria [17]. Origin from endemic countries for malaria, fever during pregnancy, placental malaria and anaemia in the mother, are the main risk factors [1, 8].

HIV infection increases susceptibility to malaria during pregnancy [7] and it is associated with higher parasite density, higher risk of maternal and fetal anaemia, intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) and pre-term delivery [20], and low birth weight (LBW) in the neonates [21]. Recently a higher prevalence of congenital malaria in infants of mothers co-infected with HIV and malaria have been reported [8]. HIV infection compromised maternal immunity though an impairment of antibody responses with a higher risk of P. falciparum transmission [22]. However, the mechanism by which HIV increases susceptibility to malaria is not known. After birth, the mother may have a normal physical examination and negative blood malaria parasite [17]. In the present case, the mother never suffered from fever or symptoms suggestive for malaria during pregnancy. In women from endemic countries for malaria and with previous episodes of malaria it is common to be asymptomatic because of the immunity developed during the time [23].

In most cases of congenital malaria, the diagnosis is made at 10–28 days of age; 20 of the 37 published cases (56%) were diagnosed before 21 days (Table 1). The symptoms are rarely detected at birth, possibly because of the presence of IgG transferred from the mother during the pregnancy, and the protective effect of HbF; indeed, the passive immunity may prevent delay the onset of congenital malaria up to 6 weeks [24].

Clinical features of congenital malaria include fever, anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, liver and spleen enlargement. Jaundice, regurgitation, loose stools and poor feeding, occasionally apnea and cyanosis have also been reported [1]. Such clinical features may be confused with bacterial or viral infection, leading to a delay in diagnosis [25]. The patient presented anaemia with high level of reticulocyte. He needed a blood transfusion every week, a progressive spleen enlargement was noted. Initially toxicity by antiretroviral therapy was hypothesized because of the good clinical condition and the absence of symptoms and signs suggestive for infection. No fever was detectable during the entire hospitalization. Five other cases of congenital malaria without fever have been described (Table 1). In this case, there was not record of the exact onset of anaemia because blood tests were not performed during the period 7–30 days after birth. Likely, the anaemia occurred days and even weeks before admission to hospital.

The mother of the infant travelled during pregnancy in region where a high percentage of P. falciparum chloroquine resistance is reported, finally arriving to a non-endemic country [26, 27]. Because of the stable clinical condition and for the suspect of chloroquine resistance, the authors decided to treat the infant, with atovaquone/proguanil according to CDC guidelines [28]. Because the parasitaemia index was 1% and no criteria of severe malaria were present, oral administration was considered as appropriate treatment. Plasmodium spp. on female twin’s blood was absent, as reported for other cases in the literature [29‐36]. Peripheral maternal and peripheral newborn’s parasite populations was analysed 2 month after delivery to compare allelic profile of persistent P. falciparum isolates. Two different parasite isolates in the mother and child at the time of blood collection were found. Likely during the gestation the mother was parasitized by different P. falciparum strains, as supported by literature data [37]. It is conceivable for the mother to have harboured more than one isolate during pregnancy, only one of them being transmitted to the newborn and the different one having persisted in the mother’s blood after delivery [38].

Malaria RDTs are useful tools to confirm presence of malaria. Under optimal conditions, the sensitivity of the RDTs is considered similar to that of direct microscopy [39]. However, their execution may be questionable since on a number of occasions false negative results have been encountered which would negatively affect proper early therapeutic intervention. The three main groups of antigens detected by RDTs are HRP2, produced by trophozoites and young gametocytes of P. falciparum only; pLDH enzyme (P. falciparum specific, P. vivax specific or pan specific), and aldolase pan-specific enzyme [40].

In the presented case, RDTs of peripheral blood failed to detect a maternal infection, while PCR and microscopy were highly effective. PfHRP2 is a histidine and alanine-rich protein, characterized by a highly polymorphic repeat domain and represents the most common malaria antigen targeted by RDTs for the specific diagnosis of P. falciparum [41]. Frequently, another protein of P. falciparum, the PfHRP3 antigen [42], is recognized by PfHRP2-based RDTs [40, 43]. The above studies further revealed that polymorphisms of the Pfhrp2/3 genes can affect the performance of HRP2-based RDTs in term of sensitivity up to total test failure (false-negative), recommending molecular investigation. False negatives can be also due to impairment in host and parasite density, or antigen concentration.

Finally, P. falciparum parasites not expressing PfhHRP2 and/or PfHRP3 antigens have been reported [44]. These results are consistent with those reported in the literature [45‐49], and suggest that diagnostic guidelines for malaria be revisited.

The negative RDT in the mother can be justified by a low parasitaemia index and by the possible deletion of the Pfhrp2 gene in this parasite. As in the present case, the discordance in vertical transmission of malaria in bicorial and biamniotic pregnancy is reported in the literature [29], as well for CMV, HIV and toxoplasmosis [32, 33, 35]. Therefore, the same pathogenesis was supposed for the present case.

A prompt diagnosis of congenital malaria is crucial. The increasing number of pregnant women travelling from endemic areas for malaria to non-endemic countries, calls for routine investigation of Plasmodium spp. in women and neonates at risk: (i) women and pregnant women from endemic area for malaria, (ii) all neonates and infants with fever, anaemia, thrombocytopaenia and hepatosplenomegaly with mother who have travelled or lived in non-endemic area for malaria (Fig. 6).