title: Seroprevalence of TORCH infections in women of childbearing age in Croatia.
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).
authors.affiliation: Virology Department, Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia. tatjana.vilibic-cavlek@hzjz.hr
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vilibic-Cavlek
authors.forename: Suncanica
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ljubin-Sternak
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ban
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kolaric
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sviben
authors.forename: Gordana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mlinaric-Galinovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D012409:Rubella / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014930:Women; D055815:Young Adult