Short report: Congenital transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in pigs

Congenital transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in pigs was investigated b y experimentally infecting sows at four weeks gestation (n = 3), 10 weeks g estation (n = 3), or a few weeks prior to insemination (n = 2). None of the piglets born to sows infected prior to insemination or in early pregnancy were found to be infected. However, all of the piglets (n = 26) born to sow s infected at 10 weeks gestation were found to harbor schistosomes with S. japonicum eggs recovered from both their feces and livers, The findings sho w that congenital S. japonicum infection of pigs can occur if sows are infe cted during mid-to-late pregnancy and may have important implications not o nly for pigs but also for other mammalian hosts of schistosomes, including humans.