Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii and human papillomavirus in paraffin-embedded spontaneous abortus materials.

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii and human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause spontaneous abortus. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these pathogens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded placenta samples from women diagnosed with spontaneous abortus. A total of 288 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded placenta tissue blocks stored in the archives of Etlik City Hospital Pathology Laboratory were included in the study between October 1, 2022, and June 23, 2023. The presence of T gondii and HPV in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded placenta samples was investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The T gondii DNA was not detected in the samples. However, anti-T gondii IgG antibody was positive in 10.4% (11/106) of the patients. Human papillomavirus DNA was positive in 5.4% of the samples, with HPV 18 and HPV 31/58/66 being the most frequently detected HPV types. Our study revealed that HPV could infect the placenta by detecting high-risk HPV in placental samples. However, no relationship was found between HPV positivity and previous stillbirth or spontaneous abortus. Prospective studies with larger populations are needed to further understand the role of these factors in the cause of spontaneous abortus.