In view of the scarce references concerning the histological data in congenital parvovirus human B19 infection, we intend to provide a description of the pathological features observed in six autopsies.The virus was detected by DNA hybridization (ISH-DBH),PCR and electronmicroscopy (EM) in paraffin-embedded feto-placentary tissues.These cases constitute a subset from 86 Non Immunologic Hydrops Fetalis (NIHF) cases, in which a systemic complex of inflammatory/degenerative lesions of unknown etiology was visualized by optical microscopy. In one case a syphilitic process was detected, typefying a double infection. All fetuses showed a similar pathology - hydrops, hepato-splenomegaly, lung hypoplasia and erythroblastemia, the specific histological feature being the presence of intranuclear inclusions in the erythroid progenitors, in the erythropoietic visceral tissue and in blood marrow. Complex cardiopathy allied to abnormal lung lobulation and polisplenia were observed once; in 2 cases endocardial fibroelastosis was diagnosed. The pulmonary lesions were represented by dysmaturity allied to interstitial mononuclear infiltration. The hepatic consisted of cholestasis, portal fibrosis, canalicular proliferation, hemossiderosis, focal necroses and giant cell transformation. The central nervous system lesions were predominantly anoxic although the autolysis impaired a correct diagnosis.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os autores apresentam um estudo de cinco casos de papilomas e papilomatoses vulvares congênitas em neo e nati-mortos. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: O material utilizado foi proveniente de cinco necrópsias. A avaliação histopatológica mostrou aspectos sugestivos de infecção pelo Pailomavirus humano (HPV). A microscopia eletrônica de três dos casos identificou partículas viróticas nucleares e citoplasmáticas variando de 40 a 60 nm, compatíveis com HPV. RESULTADOS: O estudo imunohistoquímico destas lesões demonstrou imunopositividade citoplasmática e nuclear. CONCLUSÃO: Os autores concluíram que a presença de partículas viróticas somada a imunopositividade em células escamosas, são evidências do provável envolvimento etiológico do HPV nestas lesões.

The authors present a study of five cases of vulvar congenital papillomas and papillomatoses in stillborns and neonates dead upon birth. The studied material was collected from five necropsies. The histopathological evaluation showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, perinuclear haloes, and nuclear abnormalities. In three of the cases, the electron microscopy identified nuclear and cytoplasmatic viral particles ranging from 40 to 60 nm in size, compatible with HPV. The immunohistochemical study of those lesions showed nuclear and cytoplasmatic positivity. The authors concluded that the presence of viral particles suggestive of HPV added to the immunopositivity indicated the possibility of viral infection.

A análise de cinco encéfalos humanos, quatro de pacientes parkinsonianos e um de controle, pela microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, evidenciou as seguintes mais freqüentes alterações: empobrecimento de fibras nervosas, grande aumento do espaço intersticial, desintegração do neurópilo e tumefação e degeneração das mitocôndrias. Com exceção das alterações mitocondriais, as demais ocorreram em todos os encéfalos dos parkinsonianos, fato não observado no caso controle, o que torna difícil atribuí-las à fixação. Traduzem, em última análise, a perda neuronal crônica. Houve, também, presença de depósitos amorfos no interior das mitocôndrias, dos axônios, do citoplasma e do espaço intersticial.

Brains from four parkinsonian patients and one control patient were analysed by electron microscopy. The most consistent abnormal findings were nerve fibers rarefaction, great interstitial space enlargement, neuropil disruption, mitochondrial tumefaction and degenerative changes. These findings occurred regularly in the brain of parkinsonian patients. Furthermore, except for mitochondrial changes, they were distinctively absent in the control patient, and therefore cannot be attributed to technical problems. Contrarywise, they clearly reflect chronic neuronal loss. Also noteworthy was the demonstrative of deposits of amorphous substance into mitochondria, axons, cytoplasm and into the interstitial space.