Seroprevalence of TORCH infections in women of childbearing age in Croatia

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2011 Feb;24(2):280-3. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2010.485233. Epub 2010 May 17.

Abstract

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).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Croatia / epidemiology
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / blood
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology
  • Female
  • Herpes Simplex / blood
  • Herpes Simplex / epidemiology*
  • Herpes Simplex / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 1, Human / immunology
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / immunology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / blood
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Reproduction / physiology
  • Rubella / blood
  • Rubella / epidemiology*
  • Rubella / immunology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis / blood
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / immunology
  • Women*
  • Young Adult