Vertical Transmission of Helminthic Infection is possible
Trichinellosis-October 14, 2002
The parasitic worm Trichinella spiralis may be transmitted from mother to child in pregnancy, researchers in Argentina found in a rat study.
“To evaluate whether pregnancy has a synergetic effect on the host’s immune response against Trichinella spiralis infection, immunological and parasitological parameters relating to the infection were assessed in pregnant rats and compared to those observed in virgin infected rats,” wrote G.G. Nunez and colleagues, University of Buenos Aires, Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology and Biotechnology.
“The muscle parasite load was lower in pregnant infected rats but no differences were found in the intestinal worm burdens or the fecundity of female worms. The ability of sera to mediate death in newborn larvae (NBL) in an antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity assay was higher for pregnant rats, even in the absence of specific anti-NBL antibodies,” the researchers reported.
“High levels of total and anti-NBL IgE were found in both groups, however, these levels were higher in the group of pregnant infected animals. No differences were found in anti-NBL IgGAM titers, nevertheless in some pregnant infected rats these antibodies were found earlier. No differences were found in peritoneal or blood eosinophil counts. Offspring born to infected dams were found to be infected.”
The researchers concluded: “The results obtained in this model demonstrate that during pregnancy there is an enhanced helminthotoxic effect towards the NBL. Despite this immunoactivation, vertical transmission of the parasite is possible.”
Nunez and coauthors published their study in Parasitology Research (Increased parasiticide activity against Trichinella spiralis newborn larvae during pregnancy. Parasitol Res, 2002;88(7):661-667).
The contact person for this report is S.M. Venturiello, University of Buenos Aires, Dept. of Microbiology, Immunology & Biotechnology, Junin 956, RA-1113 Buenos Aires, DF, Argentina.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Parasitology, Disease Transmission. This article was prepared by Vector & Zoonosis Week editors from staff and other reports.
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