ABSTRACT The diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis presents limitations and therefore new options are necessary. The analysis of amniotic fluid by real-time PCR has already proved effective for confirmation of fetal infection. However, its performance in other biological samples is not clear yet. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of real-time PCR in the blood of the mother and newborn as well as in the amniotic fluid and placenta in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. This is a descriptive cohort study of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis followed up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Real-time PCR was performed in samples of maternal blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, and blood of newborns. In addition, histopathological examination of placentas was performed, and data collected from babies were collected. 116 pregnant women were followed up and 298 samples were analyzed. One (0.9%) pregnant woman presented positive PCR in the blood, 3 (3.5%) in the amniotic fluid, 1 (2.3%) in the placenta and no newborn had positive PCR in the blood. Histopathological study was suggestive of toxoplasmosis infection in 24 (49%) placentas. Six (5.2%) newborns were diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis, and only cases with positive PCR in the amniotic fluid had correlation of the PCR result with the diagnosis of congenital infection. Both maternal and blood samples of new-borns and placenta did not prove to be promising in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Further studies are needed to evaluate the real role of molecular diagnosis in other biological materials rather than the amniotic fluid.

ABSTRACT Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women can cause significant morbidity and mortality in the fetus, which may be mitigated by early diagnosis and treatment. Social factors have also been related to the risk of developing the congenital form of toxoplasmosis, since some of these factors interfere directly in the quality of prenatal care. This study aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological data of pregnant women diagnosed with toxoplasmosis and their newborns followed up at a referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was descriptive cohort study of 334 pregnant women with toxoplasmosis followed from May 2014 to December 2017. We conducted interviews to assess knowledge about the disease and its preventive measures, analyzed clinical and laboratory data during antenatal visits, and collected data from the newborns' medical charts. Results: This was a predominantly low-income women cohort study, with little schooling, mainly referred from public health services late in pregnancy (178; 53.3%), in the second and third trimesters (286; 85.6%). Diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis had not been confirmed in 171 cases (51.2%). Out of 183 (54.9%) women who had initiated treatment at the original health services, 45 (24.6%) received an incorrect prescription. Seventy-two amniocenteses were performed, with positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the amniotic fluid in two cases (2.8%). Congenital toxoplasmosis at birth was identified in eight newborns (5.4%). Conclusion: Late referral to specialized medical services, inadequate toxoplasmosis management at the original prenatal care services, and social vulnerabilities are contributing factors to the persistent occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis cases.

Avaliou-se o desenvolvimento do intestino médio, do fígado e do pâncreas de girinos de rã-touro (Rana catesbeiana) alimentados com ração comercial com 22, 24 ou 28% de proteína bruta (PB). Utilizaram-se 360 girinos com 15 dias de vida, provenientes de mesma desova, distribuídos em caixas com 30 L de água, em densidade de 1 girino/L, mantidas a 25°C (±1ºC), constituindo um delineamento experimental completamente casualizado, com quatro repetições. A partir do 9º dia e até o 48º dia de alimentação, os órgãos (intestino médio, fígado e pâncreas) de três girinos de cada grupo foram fixados em solução histológica de Bouin para coloração por hematoxilina e eosina. A presença de tecido conjuntivo extremamente frouxo nas alças intestinais dos girinos sugeriu situação provisória para a mudança da arquitetura intestinal após a metamorfose. Nesse período, observou-se aumento no número de células caliciformes e de microvilosidades e, no 25º dia, verificou-se a presença de células hepáticas, com arranjo glandular mais compacto, o que sugere funcionalidade e confirma os melhores resultados de desempenho obtidos a partir desse período nos girinos alimentados com as rações com maior nível protéico. No 35º dia, observou-se a estrutura do fígado bilobado, com sinais de desorganização, o que indica rarefação celular protéica, decorrente de mau aproveitamento da proteína da ração. Novos estudos são necessários para continuidade aos esclarecimentos sobre as características fisiológicas de rãs-touro na fase de girino.

The development of midgut, liver and pancreas bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catesbeiana) fed commercial diets with 22, 24 or 28% of crude protein (CP) was evaluated. A total of 360 tadpoles, 15 days old, from the same spawning, was allotted to 30 L-boxes, using a density of 1 tadpole/L, kept at 25 °C (±1°C). A completely randomized experimental design with four replications was used. Three tadpoles of each group were collected from 9th to 48th day of feeding, and organs (midgut, liver and pancreas) were fixed in Bouin's solution and staining by Hematoxilyn and Eosine. The presence of extremely loose connective tissue in the intestinal loops of tadpoles suggested temporary situation for the change of the architecture after metamorphosis. During this period, there was an increase in goblet cells and microvilli numbers, and in the 25th day, it was observed presence of liver cells, with more compact glandular arrangement, suggesting functionality and confirms the best performance results obtained from that period in tadpoles fed diets with the highest protein level. On the 35th day, it was observed structure of bilobade liver, with signs of disorganization, which indicates rarefaction cell protein, due to poor use of dietary protein. Further studies are needed to continue the clarification of the physiological characteristics of bullfrogs during the tadpole phase.