Pathology
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Fetopathology and developmental pathology of the embryo and fetus
Marta Ježová, Josef Feit et al.
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Fetomaternal listeriosis
Etiology, pathogenesis
  • caused by bacterium Listeria monocytogenes which is especially dangerous for imunosuprimated individuals and pregnant women
  • the source of the infection is contaminated food (unpasteurized milk products etc.)
  • the placenta is infected by hematogenous and probably also ascendent way and the fetus subsequently swallow and breathe the amniotic fluid
  • in the fetus a serious diseminated infection with foci in many organs develops
Clinical signs
  • subfebrilia (of the mother), elevation of the inflammatory markers with spontaneous recovery after the delivery
  • spontaneous abortion, premature birth of a dead or seriously infected newborn
Macroscopic appearance
  • placenta: dim fetal membranes and fetal surface of the placenta; on the placenta cut there are whitish nodules similar to infarcts, but smaller
  • fetus: greyish-yellow focuses of a pin-head size in the liver, adrenals, lungs, purulent inflammation of the meninges, pus in the brain ventricles, pustular rash, small pustules on the mucosa of the GIT
Histology
  • Placenta: besides the chorioamnionitis sometimes severe inflammation of the villous tissue with abscesses is found — acute villitis, intervilous abscesses, villous necrosis and increased deposits of intervillous fibrin
  • Fetus: in the early course of the disease there are necrotic foci and miliar abscesses in the liver, adrenals, leukocytic infiltration of the meninges, adnate pneumonia and later monocellular reaction and formation of small granulomas