[Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in human placenta by PCR and placental histologic findings].

Since isolation of Toxoplasma gondii from human placenta strongly correlates with fetal infection, the aims of the study were: to detect fragments of T. gondii B1 gene in human placentae by PCR and to evaluate their pathology. 36 placentae included in three groups were obtained: group I (n = 7) from pregnancies with prenatal diagnosis of fetal toxoplasmosis; II (n = 17) from women with serologic features of primary infection during pregnancy; III (n and 13) from pregnancies with fetal T. gondii infection based on clinical signs. T. gondii DNA was found in 2/4 samples from the I group and in 1/14 from the II group. Villitis was identified in 3/15 other placentae from the II group. In the III group we did not recognize neither T. gondii DNA nor villitis. We consider PCR and pathologic evaluations of placentae as the two complementary methods. PCR can be especially helpful in pregnancies not screened against T. gondii as positive result in placenta can confirm mother's primary infection.