An examination of the seroprevalence of torch infections and their correlation with adverse reproductive outcomes in females exhibiting a bad obstetric history

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Original Article

Author Details : Mohammed Mohammed, May Salem Al-Saadi, Abdullah Salim Al-Karawi*

Volume : 10, Issue : 4, Year : 2023

Article Page : 209-215

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijmr.2023.037

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Abstract

Background: The term TORCH infections refer to a group of diseases including Toxoplasma, Other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes infections. These are a set of pathogens capable of traversing the placental barrier, subsequently causing congenital infections. Often these infections are asymptomatic initially and pose significant diagnostic challenges during gestation, potentially leading to undesirable obstetric outcomes. This research intends to explore the correlation between TORCH infections and perinatal outcomes within pregnancies deemed high-risk.
Methodology: We examined 143 high-risk pregnant patients aged 18-46 from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at the Baghdad Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital. Hundreds of normal pregnancy group were also included. The high-risk group encompassed women with recurring pregnancy loss, fetal congenital anomalies, intrauterine fetal death, and low birth weight intrauterine neonatal death. The presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against TORCH agents in patients’ serum control serum were assessed using ELISA kits. We compared perinatal outcomes between TORCH seropositive and seronegative high-risk pregnant women.
Findings: Among the 143 high-risk pregnancies, a significant proportion of young, low-parity women from diverse residences were co-seropositive for Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes Simplex infections. Of these, 55 cases (48.4%) were seropositive for all the four TORCH agents compared to 88 cases (38%) were seropositive for antibodies to one to three of the TORCH agents. IgG seropositivity was 74.5%, while IgM seropositivity was 31.8% for Toxoplasma gondii, 3.6% for CMV and 0% for RV infections, respectively. Significantly, high-risk pregnancies with TORCH seropositivities exhibited a clearly strong correlation with Habitual abortions outcomes.
Conclusion: High-risk manifestations demonstrated for Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes Simplex infections strongly associated with habitual abortions compare to high but less significant association in those seropositive to one, two or three of the TORCH agents
 

Keywords: Bad obstetric history perinatal outcome, Cytomegalovirus, High- risk pregnancy, Herpes simplex virus, Rubella virus, Seronegative, Seropositivity, Toxoplasma.

How to cite : Mohammed M, Al-saadi M S, Al-karawi A S, An examination of the seroprevalence of torch infections and their correlation with adverse reproductive outcomes in females exhibiting a bad obstetric history. Indian J Microbiol Res 2023;10(4):209-215

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