possibility of transplacental transmission of experimental schistosomiasis

ABSTRACT

Congenital transmission of Schistosoma mansoni and S. hematobium in mice was studied by experimentally infected pregnant mice on day 3, 9 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% to 40%. On the other hand, 8 out of 30 pups born to mice infected with S. hematobium in late pregnancy were found to harbor Schistosomes with granulomas recovered in their livers and intestines. These findings showed that congenital infection of mice with S. mansoni and S. hematobium 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