[Vertical transmission from abortive material and blood with emphasis on Toxoplasma gondii]

Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2014 Jan;36(1):17-22. doi: 10.1590/S0100-72032014000100005.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the serological, anatomopathological and parasitological results obtained from abortive material in order to detect infections with the risk of vertical transmission, with emphasis on toxoplasmosis.

Methods: A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of infectoparasitic diseases. A total of 105 women who suffered spontaneous complete or incomplete abortion participated in the study. The women were interviewed, answered a questionnaire and had their blood and abortive material collected. Immunological tests were carried out in order to detect toxoplasmosis, Chagas disease, rubeola, cytomegalovirus and syphilis, and anatomopathological analysis of the ovular remains was performed.

Results: 55% of the women studied were 20 to 30 years old. Most of them (68%) presented a gestational age between the 7th and 14th week. 54.3% of the women had complete or incomplete high school education. Serological analysis showed cytomegalovirus (CMV) as the most common vertically transmitted infection with 97.1% positivity, followed by rubeola with 95.2%. Toxoplasmosis showed 54.3% positivity, Chagas disease 1.9% and syphilis 0.95%. Anatomopathological analysis showed inflammation in 63.1% of the cases and absence of inflammation in 34%. The results of the serological, anatomopathological and parasitological analysis of the 105 participants showed that 57 women were T. gondii positive. However, none showed positivity in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or in mouse inoculation.

Conclusions: The prevalence of diseases with the risk of vertical transmission is important in women with spontaneous abortion, indicating the need for more research in order to investigate the etiology of abortion.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / blood*
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / microbiology
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / parasitology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical* / statistics & numerical data
  • Prevalence
  • Toxoplasmosis / blood*
  • Toxoplasmosis / transmission*
  • Young Adult