Characterization of Fetal Brain Damage in Early Abortions of Ovine Toxoplasmosis.

There is an unacknowledged clinical presentation of ovine toxoplasmosis characterized by early abortions and lesions of fetal leukoencephalomalacia. To investigate the pathogenesis of this condition, the extent and distribution of leukomalacia and the variations in the cell populations associated with it were characterized in 32 fetal brains from 2 previously published experimental studies of infection in pregnant sheep. Immunohistochemical labeling of βAPP allowed for the detection of leukomalacia in 100/110 (91%) studied samples.