Evaluation of the vertical transmission of Trichinella spiralis during human pregnancy

GUILLERMO G. NUÑEZ, SUSANA N. COSTANTINO, TERESA GENTILE, DIANA STIVALE, STELLA MARIS VENTURIELLO

National Park Plitvicie Lakes, Croacia.

Conferencia; International Conference on Trichinellosis XII; 2007

International Commission on Trichinellosis

The clinical background, vertical transmission of Trichinella spiralis, and the helmithotoxic activity of sera were evaluated in 4 cases of infected pregnant women. Parasitological and immunological parameters were analyzed. Patients presented a clinical frame and a seroconversion pattern typical of a Trichinella infection independently of the gestation trimester. No secondary manifestations were found. Patients gave birth to healthy infants on full term even the one treated with mebendazole. Studies performed in placentae and umbilical cords by artificial digestion and/or immunofluorescence did not reveal the presence of neither the parasite nor its antigens (Ags). Anti-ML-ESP (IgG, IgE, IgA and IgM) were found in maternal sera. Specific IgG, IgE and IgA were found in the umbilical cord sera and only one of them had specific IgM as immune-complex. In the latter infant circulating parasite Ags were also found by ELISA and WB even after 10 months after birth. Sera from the patients were able to induce the NBL death in in vitro cytotoxicity assays, even in the absence of specific antibodies, this effect was abrogated by mefipristone (31.0±8.7% vs 9.7±8.2%). Our results suggest that in human trichinellosis during pregnancy there is an enhanced helminthotoxic status towards the NBL, dependent upon the progesterone leading to a mild or moderate course of the infection. However, the transplacentary passage of migrant larvae to the foetus has occurred.