Abstract

BACKGROUND: TORCH and other infections can be vertically transmitted and provoke abortions or result in congenitally infected newborns. Most babies are born with subclinical infection but have a high risk of developing sequalae later. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of seven endemic infections that represent risk for vertical transmission among pregnant women of a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective, cross-sectional study carried out in pregnant women attended at the INPer between 2010 and 2012. Infections were investigated by serological risk markers among pregnant women living in the Valley of Mexico and answered a questionnaire including risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 1079 pregnant women were studied, and the overall frequency of infection was 5.7%. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii low avidity IgG (2.0%) and parvovirus B19 IgM (2.0%) were the most common. No HBV S-Ag and one rubella case were detected. An association of markers studied with fetal malformations and transfusions (p < 0.015) was found. Toxoplasma infection was associated with the last two variables, as well as with the consumption of raw meat, previous positive TORCH and infection with HPV. Parvovirus B19 IgM was associated with stillbirths, and T. pallidum with HIV. Four cases had double infections. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the success of vaccination control programs against rubella and active HBV, although infections or perinatal risk are still challenging for this group of women and their children´s health.

Highlights

  • TORCH and other infections can be vertically transmitted and provoke abortions or result in congenitally infected newborns

  • Parvovirus B19 IgM was associated with stillbirths, and T. pallidum with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

  • This study supports the success of vaccination control programs against rubella and active HBV, infections or perinatal risk are still challenging for this group of women and their childrens health

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Summary

Introduction

TORCH and other infections can be vertically transmitted and provoke abortions or result in congenitally infected newborns. Toxoplasma gondii, Treponema pallidum, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpesvirus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other infections can be vertically transmitted and produce spontaneous abortions or congenitally infected newborns, most of whom are born without apparent problems, but having a high risk of developing sequelae later in life.[1,2] Congenital infections occur most often in developing countries, being CMV the most common worldwide.[2,3,4] Other congenital infections, including those caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), HIV, rubella or hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV, respectively), are less frequent among newborns, but they are mostly severe.[2,5] For infections such as toxoplasmosis and parvovirus B19, the actual frequency and risk are unknown in many parts of the world. The limited data available indicate that they are present and at a relatively high frequency.[9,10,11,12,13,14,15]

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