Teratogenic parasites: disease mechanisms and emerging study models

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Parasitology

Background:

• Congenital infections are a major cause of preventable pregnancy complications.
• Mechanisms of parasitic transmission during pregnancy are not well understood.
• Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii are key parasites with congenital transmission potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the global incidence of three specific congenital parasites.
• To explore the transplacental transmission strategies of these parasites.
• To highlight advancements in placental modeling for studying gestational pathology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of global incidence data for Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii.
• Analysis of current research on parasite transplacental transmission mechanisms.
• Discussion of technological advancements in placental modeling.

Main Results:

• Global incidence of congenital Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii infections varies.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the specific mechanisms of transplacental parasite transmission.
• New placental models offer potential for detailed pathological studies.

Conclusions:

• Understanding parasitic congenital infections is crucial for maternal and fetal health.
• Technological advancements in placental modeling are key to future research.
• Selective adaptation may have driven the evolution of placental infection mechanisms.