D

Syphilis, toxoplasmosis and even Candida species are well-documented TORCH or TORCH-like pathogens that can cross the placenta and produce congenital infection or fetal damage in utero [Uku 2021, 33676773; Martin 2001, 12143899; Meizoso 2008, 18214512]. Poliovirus, in contrast, is not recognized as a cause of transplacental fetal infection and is absent from standard lists of congenital pathogens reviewed in vertical-transmission literature [Arora 2017, 28494237]. Therefore, polio is the exception.