Increase in Percentage of Seronegative Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus in Pregnant Women: An Improvement in Hygienic Conditions in Certain Areas?
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania; (F.G.); (M.L.C.)
2 Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania;
3 Laboratory of Antenatal Medicine, City Emergency Hospital, 300041 Timișoara, Romania;
4 Department of Radiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania;
* Correspondence: ; Tel.: +40-722-960-911
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 28 Sep 2020 / Accepted: 22 Oct 2020 / Published: 17 Nov 2020
Abstract
(1) Background: Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus belong to a group of pathogens entities called TORCH agents. TORCH represents an acronym which derives from the name of a series of certain pathogenic agents (Toxoplasma gondii, Other agents, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes virus). They could cross the placenta barrier and cause serious damage to the fetus if a primary infection occurs in a pregnant woman. Immunized women are relatively protected against a reinfection and the risk of a materno-fetal infection in these categories of pregnant women is considered low. (2) Aim of the study: To analyze changes in the percentage of pregnant women seronegative to Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus along a period of ten years, from 2008 to 2018. (3) Material and Methods: We studied the changes in percentage of seronegative Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus pregnant women along two periods: 2008–2010 and 2015–2018. Only pregnant women with declared medium of provenience and unequivocal results were enrolled in the study. (4) Results: In urban areas, we found an increase in the percentage of pregnant women seronegative to Toxoplasma gondii (RR = 1.488, p < 0.0001), respectively to cytomegalovirus (RR = 1.985, p < 0.0001), from 2008–2010 to 2015–2018. A similar increasing trend was found also in rural areas: Toxoplasma gondii (RR = 1.136, p < 0.0322), respectively cytomegalovirus (RR = 1.088, p < 0.8265) but it did not reach a significant threshold for cytomegalovirus. (5) Conclusion: Our study showed that the percentage of women seronegative to Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus antibodies increases along a period of ten years, from 2008–2010 to 2015–2018, in both urban and rural areas. Probably, the main cause of this trend is represented by the improvement in hygienic condition and food quality control. These results present an argument for continuing the TORCH screening of pregnant women.
Keywords: ; cytomegalovirus; trend; susceptibility; pregnant women
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CITE
Navolan, D.-B.; Gorun, F.; Oancea, C.; Ciohat, I.-M.; Malița, D.; Craina, M.L. Increase in Percentage of Seronegative Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus in Pregnant Women: An Improvement in Hygienic Conditions in Certain Areas? Timisoara_Med 2020, 2020, 9.
Navolan D-B, Gorun F, Oancea C, Ciohat I-M, Malița D, Craina ML. Increase in Percentage of Seronegative Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus in Pregnant Women: An Improvement in Hygienic Conditions in Certain Areas? Timisoara Medical Journal. 2020; 2020(1):9.
Navolan, Dan-Bogdan; Gorun, Florin; Oancea, Cristian; Ciohat, Ioana-Mihaela; Malița, Daniel; Craina, Marius Lucian. 2020. "Increase in Percentage of Seronegative Toxoplasma gondii and Cytomegalovirus in Pregnant Women: An Improvement in Hygienic Conditions in Certain Areas?" Timisoara_Med 2020, no. 1: 9.
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