Antenatal Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella and Cytomegalovirus Infection Screening Among Pregnant Women Attending Tertiary University Hospital

Abstract

<p><strong>Objective:</strong> The present study was designed to determine the seroprevalance of Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, and cytomegalovirus, to investigate the frequency of low and high avidity results among pregnant women and to contribute to the data of our country with the results obtained.</p><p><strong>Study Design:</strong> In the present study, the hospital records of the women who applied to the antenatal outpatient of the Rize Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Medical Faculty during the first trimester between January 2016 and October 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Toxoplasma gondii, RRubella and cytomegalovirus IgM, IgG and IgG avidity results were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Result:</strong> IgM positivity was found to be 0.83% (29/3490) for Toxoplasma gondii, 0.92% (32/3459) for Rubella and 1.90% (65/3404) for cytomegalovirus; IgG positivity was found to be 33.64% (1174/3490) for Toxoplasma gondii, 90.70% for Rubella (3140/3459), and 99.17% (3376/3404) for cytomegalovirus. Avidity of Toxoplasma gondii was found to be low (3.70%) in 1 patient, borderline (11.11%) in 3 patients, and high avidity in 23 patients (85.18%). Avidity of cytomegalovirus was found to be low (1.75%) in 1 patient, borderline (3.50%) in 2 patients and high avidity (94.73%) in 54 patients. Avidity of Rubella was found to be low (4%) in 1 patient, and high avidity (96%) was found in 24 patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> In our study, although the prevalence of acute infection with Rubella, cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii was shown to be low in pregnancy in Rize province, serological screening tests for monitoring and informing high-risk groups that are particularly seronegative appear to be important.</p>

Impact of Syrian refugees on congenital TORCH infections screening in Turkey

“…5 We demonstrated that anti-T. gondii IgG seropositivity ranges between 9.2% and 68% in different regions. 8,10,[16][17][18][19][20] Evaluation of anti-T. gondii IgG in our study showed a seropositivity rate of 18.70% (1745/9322). Toklu found that anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence was 18.3%.…”

“…Moreover, considering the socio-economic levels of Ankara, anti-CMV seropositivity was observed less frequently compared to other studies. [16][17][18][19]25 Pradhan 9 and Sen et al 13 found higher anti-CMV IgM seropositivity rates compared to other studies. This may be related to the higher prevalence of infections that are transmitted by droplets in these countries and it may also be related to larger households and worse sanitation conditions.…”

“…9,11,12,28,31 In studies performed in different regions of our country, however, anti-CMV IgG seropositivity was observed at similar levels, ranging between 98% and 99%. [16][17][18][19]25 No sign of congenital abnormalities was found the amniocentesis group or in the follow-up group in the perinatal period and in postpartum controls. In the literature comparison of the other studies around the world, Abdel-Fattah et al 5 from the UK, Condorelli et al, 31 Paradhan et al 9 from Nepal and Vilibic-Cavlek et al 11 from Croatia showed that anti-CMV IgG seropositivity in Turkey was rather higher.…”

Is routine TORCH screening necessary for pregnancy follow-up?

“…Therefore, in many countries worldwide, Rubella seropositivity is screened before pregnancy and during the first trimester of pregnancy. Despite effective vaccination programs, Rubella seropositivity has been reported to vary from 71% to 98% in some countries (16). The vaccination against Rubella, which began in 1995 in Turkey, has been continuing since 2006 to include all individuals under 18 years.…”

Evaluation of toxoplasmosis risk on anxiety and perception of cat owner pregnant women

“…In the United States it is estimated that 11% of the population 6 years and older have been infected with Toxoplasma (Robert-Gangneux and Dardé, 2012). In Turkey, Rize, Toxoplasma gondii IgM seropositivity was determined as 0.83% and IgG 33.64% in pregnant women (Gurlek and Colak, 2019). If a pregnant woman becomes infected shortly before or during pregnancy, she can transmit the disease to the fetus and it can cause serious complications in the fetus (Dubey, 2016).…”