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

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. To detect specific IgM antibodies and specific IgG antibodies against the TORCH infections via ELISA, Sera were collected from the pregnant women. 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. 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.