Schistosoma japonicum infection in pregnant mice

Ten 1-week and ten 2-weeks pregnant female NMRI mice were experimentally ex posed to 70 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. Ten littermice from each group were examined for worms by perfusion 4, 6 and 8 weeks post infection. Alth ough the mothers (n = 15) were found infected with 15.5 +/- 13.4 worms at p erfusion 6 and 7 weeks post infection, no worms were found in any of the ex amined littermice, as well as no detection of faecal or tissue eggs. Litter sizes did not differ from control groups and all littermice were healthy. The present study therefore suggests that congenital infection with S. japo nicum does not occur in percutaneously infected mice and that infection of the mother during pregnancy does not seem to affect the offspring.