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The possibility of transplacental transmission of experimental schistosomiasis
M M el Temsahi1, S H el Gohari
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
Congenital transmission of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium in mice was studied by experimentally infecting pregnant mice on day three, or nine or 14 of gestation. None of the pups born to mothers infected in early or mid-pregnancy were infected. However, several pregnancies ended in abortion ranging between 10%-40%. On the other hand, eight out of 35 pups born to mice infected with S. mansoni and five out of 30 pups born to mice infected with S. haematobium in late pregnancy were found to harbour schistosomes with granulomas recovered in their livers and intestines. These findings show that congenital infection of mice with S. mansoni and S. haematobium could occur when pregnant mice were infected during late pregnancy. This may have important implications not only for mice, but also for other mammalian hosts of schistosomes, including man.
Congenital transmission of Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium in mice was studied by experimentally infecting pregnant mice on day three, or nine or 14 of gestation. None of the pups born to mothers infected in early or mid-pregnancy were infected. However, several pregnancies ended in abortion ranging between 10%-40%. On the other hand, eight out of 35 pups born to mice infected with S. mansoni and five out of 30 pups born to mice infected with S. haematobium in late pregnancy were found to harbour schistosomes with granulomas recovered in their livers and intestines. These findings show that congenital infection of mice with S. mansoni and S. haematobium could occur when pregnant mice were infected during late pregnancy. This may have important implications not only for mice, but also for other mammalian hosts of schistosomes, including man.