Increased levels of the chemokines interleukin 8 (IL-8), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1) α and MIP-1 β are crucial in parasite clearance but potentially harmful to pregnancy as they can enhance placental infiltration of immune cells such as monocytes [20, 21], which have been associated with anemia and LBW [22]. Here, CXCL8 is linked to anemia.