The limited knowledge of placental damage due to neglected infections: ongoing problems in Latin America

MORETI RIBEIRO ISABEL; SOUZA SOUTO PAULA; BORBELY ALEXANDRE; LOPEZ LIRA TANABE E; CADAVID ANGELA; ALVAREZ AM; BUENO J; AGUDELO O; GARCIA ROBLES R; AYALA RAMIREZ P; SACERDOTI FLAVIA; SZASZ THEODORA ; DAMIANO ALICIA; IBARRA CRISTINA; ESCUDERO CARLOS; LIMA VV; GIACHINI FERNANDO

SYSTEMS BIOLOGY IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

INFORMA HEALTHCARE

Lugar: London; Año: 2020 vol. 66 p. 151 - 169

1939-6368

ABSTRACTThe placenta works as a selective barrier, protecting the fetus from potential infections that may affect thematernal organismduring pregnancy. In this review, we will discuss several challenging infections that are common within Latin American countries and that may affect the maternal-fetal interface and pose risks to fetal development. Specifically, we will focus on emerging infectious diseases including the arboviruses, malaria, leishmaniasis, and the bacterial foodborne disease caused by Shiga toxinproducing Escherichia coli. We will also highlight some topics of interest currently being studied by research groups that comprise an international effort aimed at filling the knowledge gaps in this field. These topics address the relationship between exposure to microorganisms and placental abnormalities, congenital anomalies, and complications of pregnancy.