TORCH Infections In Women Research Articles

Seroprevalence of TORCH Syndrome Among Women of Reproductive Age in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran

Aims TORCH syndrome is responsible for 2% to 3% of all congenital anomalies caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), rubella virus (RV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The current study aims to determine the prevalence of TORCH infection in women in Mashhad City, Iran. Methods & Materials This cross-sectional study was conducted on 417 patients who were referred to 3 laboratories in Mashhad City, Iran. The laboratory data were collected from ​April 2016 to March 2020 to detect the specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) against the TORCH syndrome. Findings The specific IgG antibodies were found to be positive for CMV in 402 cases (96.4%), RV in 394 cases (94.5%), and T. gondii in 80 cases (19.2%). Moreover, 7 (1.6%) of the participants were found to be positive for anti-CMV IgM, 6 (1.4%) for anti-IgM RV, and 8 (1.9%) for anti-IgM T. gondii. In addition, the relationship between age and anti-T. gondii IgG in the age group of 37-47 years was 6. 44 times higher than the age group of 17-27 years. The relationship between age and anti-CMV IgG in the age group of 27-37 years was 4.13 times higher than in the age group of 37-47 years. Conclusion All women in their reproductive age should be regularly screened for TORCH syndrome to prevent congenital TORCH syndrome.

Seroepidemiology of TORCH antibodies in the reproductive-aged women in China

TORCH, the acronym of Toxoplasma gondii (TOX), others, rubella virus (RUV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV), is a major contributor to congenital infection. National population-based study on the seroepidemiology of TORCH in women is yet lacking, and it is still obscure whether TORCH infection in the women was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. A total of 48,406 asymptomatic women from eight hospitals in China which covered the most areas of mainland China were enrolled in this study, and 26,400 were simultaneously subjected to 7 detection tests for TORCH specific antibodies. Chemiluminescent immunoassay was performed to detect TORCH Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and/or Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, and IgG avidities of TOX and CMV IgM and IgG positive serum samples. The overall IgG prevalence of TOX, RUV, CMV and HSV-(1 + 2) in the reproductive-aged women was 1.71 %, 81.97 %, 95.09 % and 90.15 % respectively. The corresponding IgM prevalence of TOX, RUV and CMV was 0.30 %, 0.89 % and 0.52 %. Moreover, the rates of primary TOX and CMV infections were at least 0.08 % (21/26,400) and 0.03 % (7/26,400) in the studied population. The distributions of TORCH positive women in various age, season and region groups were different (P < 0.05). The CMV IgM-positive rate was higher in the pregnant women than those in non-pregnant women (P < 0.05). The higher past infection rates of RUV, CMV and HSV in women with bad obstetric history (BOH) imply that TORCH infections are associated with BOH. These data suggest that TORCH infections in the prenatal women, especially with BOH, are worthwhile to be screened by detections of specific IgG and IgM antibodies, and even IgG avidities.

Serologic Study for TORCH Infection in Women with Bad Obstetric History in Al-Anbar Province (IRAQ)

Serologic Study for TORCH Infection in Women with Bad Obstetric History in Al-Anbar Province (IRAQ)

Prevalence of serum antibodies to TORCH infection in the first trimester of the pregnancy in Kashan, Iran

Introduction:TORCH infections causing via Toxoplasma gondii, other microorganisms (e.g., Treponema pallidum), Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 during the first trimester of pregnancy can lead to severe fetal anomalies or even fetal loss. The current study determined the serological data of TORCH infections in women who were in their first trimesters of pregnancy.This descriptive study was carried out on 80 pregnant women in their first trimester in Kashan, Iran.Methods: To detect specific IgM antibodies and specific IgG antibodies against the TORCH infections via ELISA, Sera were collected from the pregnant women.Results: The specific IgG antibodies were found to be positive in 30(37.5%) cases for toxoplasmosis, in 74 (92.5%) cases for the Rubella virus, in 79(98.8%) cases for CMV and in 73 samples (91.3%) for the HSV types 1 and 2 infection. 3.8% of cases were found to be seropositive for Toxoplasma IgM antibody (95% CI, 0.38-7.9), 5% were positive for CMV IgM antibody (95% CI, 0.23-9.77) and 7.5% were positive for the HSV IgM antibody (95% CI, 1.8-13.2). 63.8% of pregnant women were at risk for at least to one of the TORCH agents.Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of infections caused by TORCH agents among pregnant women. Therefore, national screening programmed is necessary to screen the TORCH infections routinely and to prevent and treat congenital TORCH infection

Serological Screening of TORCH Agents as an Etiology of Spontaneous Abortion in Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal

The role of TORCH infections as a cause of spontaneous abortions is still debatable with conflicting results where geographical variation may play a significant role. This study was undertaken to discover the association of TORCH infections in women with spontaneous abortions by serological testing. The descriptive case control study was conducted from January to December, 2012. A serological evaluation was carried out to determine the presence of Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies, using commercial diagnostic kits by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Mean age of the study and control subjects were 24.8+/-6.4 and 23.8+/-3.8 years respectively where 72.8% of the study subjects were of the age between 20 to 35 years and 23% of the women with spontaneous abortion were below 20 years. Most of the cases were of incomplete abortions (43%) followed by complete abortions (26%). Only 1.3% of both IgG and IgM seropositivity against TORCH agents were noted among the study subjects whereas highest IgG seropositivity was detected with Rubella (86.8%) followed by HSV-I (72.8%). An infection susceptibility rate of 77.9% to Toxoplasma gondii, 11.7% to Rubella, 51.9% to CMV, 36.4% to HSV-I and 84.4% to HSV-II was noted. No significant difference in relation to age and type of abortion was found in seropositivity between the study and the control subjects. This study, probably the first of its kind from Nepal, suggests that current infection with TORCH agents might not be the possible etiology of spontaneous abortion. Serological TORCH screening may not be conclusive.

Prevalence of Serum Antibodies to TORCH Infection in and Around Varanasi, Northern India.

The acute infections which are caused by Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-2) during pregnancy are often associated with adverse foetal outcomes and reproductive failures. In the Indian context, the exact seroprevalence of these infections is not known due to unavailability of baseline data. The present study was undertaken to determine the serological evidence of the acute TORCH infections in women who were in the first trimesters of their pregnancies in and around Varanasi, north India. This study was carried out in the Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Varanasi and in the Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, UP, India. The study population involved pregnant women with bad obstetric histories, who were in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Sera were collected from the women with Bon and they were tested for the presence of specific IgM antibodies against the TORCH infections by ELISA. A 95% confidence interval was calculated for the positive cases in each of the TORCH components. The specific IgM antibodies were found to be positive in 74(19.4%) cases for toxoplasmosis, in 126 (30.4%) cases for the Rubella virus, in 130 (34.7%) cases for CMV and in 151 samples (33.5%) for the HSV-2 infections. The study showed a high prevalence of the infections which were caused by the TORCH complex amongst pregnant women with bad obstetric histories. Therefore, all the antenatal cases should be routinely screened for the TORCH infections, for carrying out early interventions to prevent foetal loss.

Adverse reproductive outcome induced by Parvovirus B19 and TORCH infections in women with high-risk pregnancy

The frequency of fetopathogenic viruses and Toxoplasma gondii infections in the TORCH group (Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus) together with Parvovirus B19 (B19) in pregnant women with bad obstetric history (BOH) and/or concurrent pregnancy complications was investigated. Sixty women (20-35 years) with BOH and/or antecedent pregnancy complications were studied. Twenty-nine healthy pregnant women matched for age, parity and gestational age served as controls. Sera were analyzed for IgM antibodies for B19 and TORCH agents by ELISA. Cord blood and 33 placental tissues from six malformed newborns were tested for B19 DNA by PCR. Out of 60 high-risk pregnant women, 47 (78%) had BOH while 23 (38.3%) had underlying complications including polyhydramnios (n=10), oligohydramnios (n=6) and intrauterine growth restriction (n=7). Adverse outcomes occurred in 36 (60%) high-risk cases. All 16 cases with polyhydramnios/oligohydramnios resulted in preterm stillbirths while the remaining 20 cases resulted in seven abortions, six newborns with congenital malformations, four full-term stillbirths and three cases of non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF). IgM positivity to T. gondii, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus and B19 virus was 8.3%, 15%, 30%, 3.3% and 13.6% respectively. B19 infection caused NIHF in three cases and cardiac anomaly in one. All placental tissues and cord blood were negative for B19 DNA. None of the controls had IgM antibodies to any pathogen. Women with BOH and/or pregnancy complications had a high frequency of TORCH and parvovirus B19 infections causing fetal wastage, IUGR, NIHF and congenital malformations.

Seroprevalence of TORCH infections in women of childbearing age in Croatia

During 2005–2009, a seroepidemiological study was carried out in Croatia to define the population susceptible to common TORCH agents among pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age. The IgG seroprevalence was 29.1% forT. gondii, 94.6% for rubella, 75.3% for cytomegalovirus (CMV), 78.7% for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and 6.8% for HSV-2. Acute toxoplasmosis and CMV infection (positive IgM antibodies with low IgG avidity) were documented in 0.25% and 0.09% women, respectively. IgM prevalence was 1.2% for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. None of the participants showed acute rubella infection. Seropositivity to T. gondii and HSV-2 varied significantly between age groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.036, respectively). Women residing in rural regions showed a significantly higher seroprevalence rate for T. gondii, CMV, and HSV-1 than urban women (T. gondii: 44.0% vs. 25.4%, p < 0.001; CMV: 85.0% vs. 73.1%, p = 0.018; HSV-1: 86.0% vs. 76.4%, p = 0.041).