Effects of low protein diet and pregnancy on course of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.

Pregnancy and malnutrition influence the severity or trend of malaria especially in sub-Saharan Africa where parasitic infections are highly predominant. This study was used to evaluate the combined effects of low protein diet and pregnancy on the course of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Thirty female BALB/c mice were divided into six groups viz: Non-infected mice fed on normal diet (NIND), Infected mice fed on normal diet (IND), Noninfected mice fed on low protein diet (NILP), Infected mice fed on low protein diet (ILP), Non-infected gravid mice fed on low protein diet (NIGLP) and Gravid infected mice fed on low protein diet (GILP). Malaria parasite count, packed cell volume, body weight and plasma nitric oxide (NO) production were determined. Data were compared statistically across the groups using Student t-test and ANOVA. Parasite detection in peripheral blood was delayed in ILP (day 7) and GILP (day 11) relative to IND (day 3). The peak parasitaemia and mean survival time were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in GILP relative to other infected groups. GILP could not carry the pregnancy to term. Nitric oxide production was observed to increase more rapidly in IND relative to ILP after parasite detection with a peak production by day 15. Mortality commenced in both groups afterwards. Low protein diet delayed the peak production of NO supporting its protective influence on malaria infection. However, the combined effects of low protein diet and pregnancy resulted in early mortality and inability of mice to carry pregnancy to term.