In utero transmission of Encephalitozoon cuniculi strain type I in rabbits.

Pregnant rabbits were serologically diagnosed as having been infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi. At necropsy at 28 days of gestation, does, placentas and fetuses were found to be infected with E. cuniculi strain type I as evidenced by using the nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, thereby confirming vertical transplacental transmission.