title: The placenta: a main role in congenital toxoplasmosis?
abstract: Systemic infections, such as toxoplasmosis, acquired during pregnancy can lead to placental infection and have profound effects on the mother-to-child relationship and the success of pregnancy. Placental permeability to Toxoplasma gondii is a main parameter that determines parasite transmission to the foetus, and the use of antibiotics to decrease placental parasite load and prevent congenital toxoplasmosis has been suggested for decades. Although parasitological examination of the placenta at birth is commonly used to diagnose neonatal congenital toxoplasmosis, this approach can be controversial. Here we argue in favour of placental examination for both diagnostic and epidemiological purposes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France. florence.robert-gangneux@univ-rennes1.fr
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Robert-Gangneux
authors.forename: Jean-Benjamin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Murat
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fricker-Hidalgo
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brenier-Pinchart
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gangneux
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pelloux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D051379:Mice; D059208:Parasite Load; D010920:Placenta / Q000469:parasitology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents