title: [Prevalence of infectious agents in indigenous women of childbearing age in Venezuela].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ToRCH syndrome includes the following infectious pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. In susceptible pregnant women, these pathogens can cause abortions and congenital malformation in the newborn babies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The seroprevalence of infection by ToRCH agents was determined in women of childbearing age in several Venezuelan Yukpa indigenous communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2007, 109 samples were selected from 151 women with an age range of 14 to 40 years old. The determination of antibodies against ToRCH agents was carried out through the indirect enzyme immunoassay technique by ELISA´s technique of Smartest Diagnostics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 109 samples, 85.5% presented antibodies against T. gondii, 95.4% for rubella, 75.2% for cytomegalovirus and 97.2% for and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. A relationship between abortion and infection by cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus 1and 2 was noted in 21.1% and 30.2% of women presented, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings show a high prevalence of ToRCH agents in women in childbearing age in Yukpa indigenous communities in Venezuela. Poor sanitary conditions and consumption of water contaminated with oocysts may be an important way of transmission of T. gondii. Overcrowding in the communities, sexual activity at an early age and number of partners and may be related to the presence of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus HSV-1 and 2.
authors.affiliation: Cátedra de Virología, Escuela de Bioanálisis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo, Estado Zulia, Venezuela. monsalve22000@gmail.com
authors.forename: Francisca Mercedes
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Monsalve-Castillo
authors.forename: Luciana Ana
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Costa-León
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Anais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Ricardo José
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Atencio
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral