Prenatal Diagnosis of congenital TORCH infection in Nigerian Pregnant Women

Objective: To study the incidence of fetal seropositive to IgM (congenital) in Nigerian patients with IgM seropositivity to Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasmosis, Varicella zoster, Herpes simplex, Syphilis and parvovirus.

Setting: Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy Centre in Tertiary Hospital in Lagos.

Study design: Between 1994 and 2006, a total of n=236 referred and not referred pregnant women with seropositivity to Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasmosis, Varicella Zoster, Herpes Simplex, Syphilis and Parvovirus were screened for different positivity to IgM to the specific IgM their mothers were positive to, in amniotic fluid using ELISA method. RESULT: Out n=48 Rubella IgM seropositive pregnant women who had amniocentesis done, n=21 had amniotic fluid IgM positive. Out of n=64 seropositive CMV IgM pregnant women, who had amniocentesis done, n=38 amniotic fluid were CMV IgM positive. Out of n=6 toxoplasmosis IgM seropositive patients, who had amniocentesis done, n=3 had amniotic fluid toxoplasmosis IgM positive. Out of n=12 varicella IgM positive pregnant patients, who had amniocentesis n=4 were varicella IgM positive. Out of n=6 pregnant women with IgM Herpes Simplex type 11 seropositive who had amniocentesis done, n=1 amniotic fluid was IgM Herpes Simplex type 11 positive. Out of n=6 syphilis IgM seropositive patients that had amniocentesis done, n=2 were amniotic fluid syphilis IgM positive.

Conclusion: Our result shows that there is high occurrence of congenital Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasmosis, Varicella zoster, Herpes Simplex, Syphilis and Parvovirus in our environment and that antenatal screening programs should be introduced and encouraged.