Abstract

Background

TORCH infections during pregnancy significantly impact neonatal and maternal mortality rates worldwide. This study aimed to gather baseline serological data for pregnant women's immunological status to infection and determine if definite TORCH pathogens (cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and Herpes simplex virus) were associated with Toxoplasma infection, to improve prenatal care and provide appropriate infection control strategies.

Methodology

Blood samples were gathered from 210 pregnant women attending Al Zagazig University hospitals from February to May 2023. Samples were examined for specific IgM and IgG antibodies against TORCH pathogens by electrochemiluminescence technique.

Results

Regarding TORCH infection, 60 (28.6%) cases were seronegative, while 77 (36.7%), 63 (30.0%), 56 (26.7%), and 15 (7.1%) were positive IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, and Herpes simplex virus, respectively. There was no estimate for IgM for cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, or Herpes simplex virus, indicating that no primary infection had been detected during the pregnancy. There was a statistically significant association between seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis infections (IgM and IgG) and age group ≤ 25 years, which is the most common childbearing age group. Cytomegalovirus seropositivity was found in those beyond 25 years (P-value 0.001). Antibodies to mono-infections were found in 97/210 (46.2%) subjects. It is substantially higher under-25 years age group, 71/97 (73.2%), P-value of 0.001. 45/210 (21.4%) participants had antibodies to two agents, with no significant difference in the age group over 25 years, 26/45 (57.8%). Antibodies to three agents were assessed in eight instances, all under 25 years.

Conclusions

According to our findings, serological evaluation for the TORCH complex in all pregnant women is recommended to determine infection immunity, current immunization regimens, and infection reactivation. Low TORCH antibodies rates amongst pregnant women in Egypt's Sharqia governorate might be an appropriate starting point for prenatal screening initiatives.

Details

Title
Current status of TORCH infection Seroprevalence in pregnant women: a cross-sectional study in Al Sharqia Governorate, Egypt
Author
Gouda, Marwa A. 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Katawy, Ahmed M. El 2 ; Ashry, Walaa Mohamed Omar 3 ; Said, Huda E. M. 4 

1  National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Department of Clinical and Molecular Parasitology Department, Menoufia, Egypt (GRID:grid.411775.1) (ISNI:0000 0004 0621 4712) 
2  Zagazig University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig, Egypt (GRID:grid.31451.32) (ISNI:0000 0001 2158 2757) 
3  Al-Azhar University, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Damietta, Egypt (GRID:grid.411303.4) (ISNI:0000 0001 2155 6022) 
4  Zagazig University, Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig, Egypt (GRID:grid.31451.32) (ISNI:0000 0001 2158 2757) 
Pages
123
Publication year
2023
Publication date
Dec 2023
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
e-ISSN
2522-8307
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-023-01099-6
ProQuest document ID
2849728084
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2023. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.