Abstract
Determination of antibodies against ToRCH antigens at the beginning of pregnancy allows assessment of both the maternal immune status and the risks to an adverse pregnancy outcome. Age-standardised seroprevalences were determined in sera from 1009 women of childbearing age residing in Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Turkey or China using a multiparametric immunoblot containing antigen substrates for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1, HSV-2), Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydia trachomatis, parvovirus B19, Treponema pallidum and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Seroprevalences for antibodies against HSV-1 were >90% in samples from Brazil and Turkey, whereas the other four countries showed lower mean age-adjusted seroprevalences (range: 62.5-87.9%). Samples from Brazilian women showed elevated seroprevalences of antibodies against HSV-2 (40.1%), C. trachomatis (46.8%) and B. pertussis (56.6%) compared to the other five countries. Seroprevalences of anti-T. gondii antibodies (0.5%) and anti-parvovirus B19 antibodies (7.5%) were low in samples from Chinese women, compared to the other five countries. Samples from German women revealed a low age-standardised seroprevalence of anti-CMV antibodies (28.8%) compared to the other five countries. These global differences in immune status of women in childbearing age advocate country-specific prophylaxis strategies to avoid infection with ToRCH pathogens.
Highlights
Among the main complications affecting the foetus such as congenital anomalies or birth defects, infections with pathogens of the ToRCH group are the most common causes
The primary objective of the current study was to present an overview about seroprevalences of ten ToRCH pathogens (T. gondii, rubella virus, CMV, HSV-1, HSV-2, B. pertussis, C. trachomatis, parvovirus B19, T. pallidum, varicella zoster virus (VZV)) based on 1009 serum samples from women of childbearing age residing in six countries (Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Turkey and China)
The most obvious findings to emerge from this comparative analysis were elevated seroprevalences of antibodies against T. gondii, HSV-2, B. pertussis and C. trachomatis in samples from Brazilian women
Summary
Among the main complications affecting the foetus such as congenital anomalies or birth defects, infections with pathogens of the ToRCH group are the most common causes. ToRCH pathogens conventionally include Toxoplasma gondii, herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and the teratogenic viruses cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella virus. Primary infections with some of the aforementioned ToRCH pathogens during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, are associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, abortion, still birth, sterility, premature birth, congenital malformations, and foetal or neonatal transient or chronic disease. The risks of acquiring an infection during pregnancy and the consequences vary by pathogen [1]. Compared with infections with one of the aforementioned ToRCH pathogens during pregnancy, ToRCH co-infections are associated with greater adverse impacts [2]. Symptoms and sequelae for each pathogen are reviewed for example in [3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
