Villitis of known origin: Varicella and toxoplasma

Chronic villitis is a common condition in human placentae. In some cases an infectious cause can be demonstrated, such as infection with cytomegalovir us and rubella virus. Most often it is of unknown aetiology, the so-called VUE (villitis of unknown aetiology). We describe two cases with identificat ion of specific infectious agents, each demonstrating previously unreported findings, i.e. persistent varicella antigen in the villi in case 1, and pr esence of toxoplasma cysts in Wharton's jelly in case 2. The identification of the pathogens, varicella virus and toxoplasma, would easily have been o verlooked in routine study of the placenta and were possible because of cli nical suspicion. (C) 1999 W. B. Saunders Company Ltd.