Parasitic effects on the congenital transmission of trypanosoma cruzi in mother–newborn pairs

Maternal parasitemia and placental parasite load were examined in mother-newborn pairs to determine their effect on the congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasitemia was qualitatively assessed in mothers and newborns by the microhematocrit test; parasite load was determined in the placental tissues of transmitting and non-transmitting mothers by the detection of T. cruzi DNA and by histology. Compared to transmitter mothers, the frequency and prevalence of parasitemia were found to be increased in non-transmitter mothers; however, the frequency and prevalence of parasite load were higher among the transmitter mothers than among their non-transmitter counterparts. Additionally, serum levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in peripheral, placental, and cord blood samples. Median values of IFN-gamma were significantly increased in the cord blood of uninfected newborns. The median IFN-gamma values of transmitter and non-transmitter mothers were not significantly different; however, non-transmitter mothers had the highest total IFN-gamma production among the group of mothers. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that the anti-T. cruzi immune response occurring in the placenta and cord is under the influence of the cytokines from the mother's blood and results in the control of parasitemia in uninfected newborns.