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→Pathology
===Pathology===
===Pathology===
When infection in the
When infection in the
placentome is initiated, parasite multiplication causes
placentome is initiated, parasite multiplication causes
multiple foci of necrosis29. These foci of tissue
multiple foci of necrosis29. These foci of tissue
damage expand throughout the remainder of gestation
until abortion or birth when they may be macroscopically
visible as white spots in the cotyledons of
the shed placenta, a feature used to aid diagnozsis"31.
Diagnosis is also helped by histological examination
of the brain where there may be both primary
and secondary lesions32'33. Glial foci, surrounding a
necrotic and sometimes mineralized centre, often
associated with a mild lymphoid meningitis, represent
a fetal immune response following direct damage by
parasite multiplication. Focal leukomalacia is also
common and is thought to be due to fetal anoxia in
late gestation caused by advanced focal necrosis in
the placentome preventing sufficient oxygen transfer
from mother to fetus33. Focal inflammatory lesions
and associated diffuse lymphoid infiltrates may also
be found in the liver, lung and heart and less
frequently in kidneys and skeletal muscle33.
These foci of tissue
damage expand throughout the remainder of gestation
damage expand throughout the remainder of gestation
until abortion or birth when they may be macroscopically
until abortion or birth when they may be macroscopically