Abstract

PLACENTAL AND FETAL TISSUE STRUCTURAL CHANGES RESULTING FROM CONGENITAL TOXOPLASMOSIS

Dr. Talib Jawad Kadhim, Dr. Nagham Yaseen Al-Bayati* and Hala Yaseen Kadhim

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic, obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that has the capacity to infect all warm – blooded animals and humans. This parasite can be transmitted from infected mother to her fetus during pregnancy and the primary infection may lead to severe complications such as spontaneous miscarriages, stillbirth or congenital anomalies. Most previous studies on the histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in placenta and embryos have been done in animal models. Aims of the study: To determine the histopathlogical changes that happen in placenta and fetal organs obtained from aborted women infected with Toxoplasma gondii during Pregnancy using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and by immunohistological stains. Materials and Methods: Eighty aborted women aged 16- 45 years were included in this study. Ten fetuses were obtained from the aborted women. Maternal infections with T. gondii were confirmed by serological diagnosis via demonstration of the anti- T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in sera samples. Fetal tissue samples were prepared for histopatholgical and immunohistochmical techniques. Results: Many pathological changes were observed and recorded in fetal tissues obtained from aborted women infected with toxoplasmosis and the parasite were detected in the brains and lungs of the fetuses and in placenta. Conclusion: The results showed that T. gondii can influence the placental and fetal tissues and proved that congenital toxoplasmosis may cause abortion via pathological changes that appeared in examined tissues. Immunohistochemical stain was more sensitive than H & E in diagnosis.

Keywords: Toxoplasmosis, placenta, histopathology, immunohistochemical stain.