Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella and Cytomegalovirus Among Pregnant Refugees and Turkish Women: A Retrospective Comparative Study
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, rubella, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) among pregnant Turkish women as well as Syrian refugees in Istanbul. Methods: Among pregnant women who were admitted to the Esenler Maternity and Children Hospital in Istanbul between January 2014 and January 2015, antibodies against T. gondii, rubella, and CMV were measured using the micro ELISA method. The test results were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Out of a total of 1066 pregnant women screened in the present study, 963 (90.3% were Turkish, and 103 (9.7% were Syrian refugees. IgM positivity rates of T. gondii, rubella, and CMV were determined as 0.2% 0% and 0.2% in Turkish women and 0.1% 0% and 0% in Syrian refugees, whereas IgG positivity rates were determined as 26.3% 93.8% and 99.5% in Turkish women and 58.3% 87.4% and 100% in Syrian refugees. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was lower, and rubella was higher among pregnant Turkish women and among pregnant Syrian refugees and statistically significant (p<0.05) Conclusion: Since immunity against T. gondii in pregnant Turkish women is lower than that in Syrian refugees who are in the reproductive age group, routine screening should be conducted. Immunization against rubella should be considered for Syrian refugees who are in the reproductive age group. DOI: 10.14744/scie.2018.66375 South. Clin. Ist. Euras. 2018;29(4):235 239 1Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Health Sciences, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey 2Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey 3Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Health Sciences, Bakirkoy Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey Correspondence: Lutfiye Nilsun Altunal, SBU Umraniye Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Enfeksiyon Hastaliklari ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Klinigi, Istanbul, Turkey Submitted: 14.08.2018 Accepted: 06.09.2018 E mail: l.nilsun@hotmail.com