IMMUNE STATUS IN CONGENITAL INFECTIONS BY TORCH AGENTS IN PREGNANT THAIS

A cross-sectional, seroepidemiological survey of the prevalence of ant ibodies to TORCH agents during various stages of gestation revealed an overall rate of 13-15 percent having antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii; 85-87 percent, to rubella; 79-81 percent, to herpes simplex virus (HS V); 100 percent, to cytomegalovirus (CMV); 82-86 percent, to human her pes virus type 6 (HHV-6); 1-2 percent, to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Non e of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) antibody was detected, and a prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 6 percent . Although a tendency was noted towards an increase of antibody detect ion to each TORCH agent as gestation progressed, a statistically signi ficant increase in antibodies titer and specific IgM antibody was foun d with regard to CMV. These results suggest an increase in CMV infecti on or reactivation during pregnancy whereas an increase in the other T ORCH infections was not obvious.