Features of the morphofunctional state of the placenta infected with Mycoplasma genitalium

Aim. To study morphofunctional state of the placenta infected with Mycoplasma genitalium.

Materials and methods. Histological, morphometric and molecular genetic studies of 34 placentas from women with preterm birth were carried out. Histological examination was performed according to the standard method with hematoxilin-eosin staining. Morphometry was done using the image analysis system based on the microscope "Carl Zeiss" using the program "Axio Vision". Placental infection was studied by PCR. The genome of the following pathogens was identified: Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma spp., Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus, Herpes human virus 4 type, Herpes human virus 6 type, Chlamydia trachomatis, Parvovirus B19, Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus spp., Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae.

Results. The genome of perinatal infections was found in 21 placentas of 34 (61.8%). M. genitalium DNA was detected in one placenta as monoinfection (2.9%), in another it was in combination with S. agalactiae (2.9%). In addition, the DNA of Ureaplasma spp. was determined in 32.3% and M. hominis DNA in 23.5% of cases in mono-and combined infections. Single placentas had DNA of S. agalactiae, Cytomegalovirus, human Herpes virus type 4. No other infectious agents were identified. In the placenta infected with M. genitalium, pathohistological examination revealed signs of subcompensated chronic placental insufficiency, inflammatory changes in the membranes, malformations of the afterbirth. Morphometric study of terminal villi of the placenta infected with M. genitalium showed a decrease in the content of vessels in the terminal villi, a decrease in the area, of vertical and horizontal dimensions, the perimeter of the villi compared with the average values of the terminal villi of uninfected placenta.

Conclusion. Features of vascularization of the placenta infected with M. genitalium indicate a decrease in gas exchange and developing hypoxia of the placenta, which may be one of the components in polyetiological nature of miscarriage. The use of the morphometric characteristics of the terminal villi of the placenta allows to objectify the data on the state of the terminal villi, and to predict the risk of intrauterine infection of the newborn.

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