Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces serum progesterone levels and adverse effects at the maternal-foetal interface

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Brito, C (Author) Other; Silva, TM (Author) Other; Castro, MM (Author) Other; Wyrwas, W (Author) Other; Oliveira, B (Author) Other; Fonseca, BM (Author) Other; oliveira, p (Author) ICBAS; Roberts, CW (Author) Other; Teixeira, NA (Author) FFUP; Margarida Borges (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Parasite Immunology

Vol. 42

ISSN: 0141-9838

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-GZT

DOI: 10.1111/pim.12690

Abstract (EN): Aims Pregnant BALB/c mice infected with a Toxoplasma gondii type II strain were used to determine how pregnancy interferes with the development of maternal immunity to T gondii and how infection disrupts pregnancy and foetal development. Methods Maternal and foetal parasite loads were assessed by amplification of T gondii SAG1 using qPCR. Adverse effects of infection were evaluated on foetal-placental development by quantification of implantation units undergoing resorption and by histopathological analyses. Serum progesterone levels were quantified by immunoassay. The effect of T gondii infection on maternal immunity was determined by assessing the cellular composition of spleens by flow cytometry. Results Infected pregnant mice exhibited clinical signs of infection, inflammation and necrosis at the maternal-foetal interface and decreased serum progesterone levels. In infected mice, there was a clear effect of pregnancy and infection on macrophage cell numbers. However, no differences in the parasite load were detected between nonpregnant and pregnant mice. Conclusions Maternal T gondii infection induced adverse effects at the maternal-foetal interface. Alterations were found in immune spleen cells, dependent on the day of pregnancy, relative to nonpregnant animals. The results obtained suggest a pregnancy-dependent mechanism during T gondii infection able to interfere with macrophage numbers.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15