Prenatal diagnosis of viral infections: a two-year study in Strasbourg.

We report here the results of a 2-year study on the prenatal diagnosis of v iral infections in Strasbourg. This screening was carried out by virus isol ation, by PCR assay, or by detection of IgM fetal antibody for 98 pregnant women at risk of transmitting one of the viruses that causes fetal disease such as parvovirus B19 (B19), Herpesviruses [cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicel la-zoster virus, herpes simplex virus] and rubella virus. A viral etiology was proven in 7 out 98 cases: PCR applied to B19 DNA detection was positive in 5 amniotic fluids (AF), 2 fetal serums and one ascitic liquid. The diag nosis of 2 cases of CMV infection was obtained by both PCR and virus isolat ion in AF from twins fetuses. The detection of specific IgM in maternal ser um or fetal serum is useful to achieve the diagnosis but serological tests on other samples have no efficiency. No virus was found in any other specim en, but the genome of Toxoplasma gondii was detected by PCR in 1 of 17 AF s amples analyzed at the Institut de Parasitologie. These findings show that PCR assay is a sensitive method for the positive diagnosis of intrauterine infection and promises to careful followup of the pregnancy.