Placental involvement in paracoccidioidomycosis.

A case of juvenile-type paracoccidioidomycosis in a pregnant woman is reported. The disease pre-dated pregnancy and antifungal treatment was being administered when she became pregnant. A premature male infant was delivered with no evidence of infection. Microscopic examination of the placenta showed numerous Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast forms in the intervillous space, enmeshed in a macrophagic-phagocytic reaction, with damage of the trophoblastic layer. Placental transfer of specific P. brasiliensis antibodies was demonstrated.