Susceptibility to cytomegalovirus, parvovirus B19 and age‐dependent differences in levels of rubella antibodies among pregnant women

Abstract

Infections caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV), parvovirus B19 (B19), and rubella can lead to serious complications in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility to CMV, B19, and rubella antibodies in pregnant women in Norway. Consecutive sera samples were collected from pregnant women in two different regions in Norway. Sera were collected from age groups; ≤19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and ≥40 years old. Of the 2,000 pregnant women tested, anti-CMV IgG was positive in 62.8% anti-parvovirus B19 IgG in 59.7% and anti-rubella IgG in 94.4%. CMV IgG susceptibility has decreased in pregnant women less than 30 years of age, from 60% in a study conducted in 1973-1974 to 37.2% in present study. There was a significant difference in CMV IgG seropositivity rate between the two regions (58.6% and 67.1%). Serum levels of rubella IgG was lowest in age group 25-29 years with a positivity rate of 91.0%. Women born before vaccination with two doses of MMR started, had both a higher positivity rate and significantly higher levels of rubella antibody titre, 96.1% and 82.2 IU/ml compared to those born after 92.9% and 41.7 IU/ml. Significantly lower anti-rubella IgG titre found in the youngest age groups highlights the need for continued antenatal screening. A considerable increase in anti-CMV-IgG seropositivity rate was observed and might be associated with higher rate of breastfeeding and a higher percentage attending day-care centres.

Seroepidemiology of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women in Durango City, Mexico

“…On the other hand, comparison of our seroprevalence with those reported in other countries suggests that the seroprevalence of CMV infection in pregnant women in Durango could be placed in an intermediate position of endemicity. The 65.6% seroprevalence found in pregnant women in Durango is similar to the 62.4%-66% seroprevalences reported in pregnant women in Poland [13], Japan [14], and Norway [15], and higher than the 49% seroprevalence in white British pregnant women in the United Kingdom [16] and a 42.3% seroprevalence in pregnant women in Germany [17]. In contrast, the seroprevalence found in pregnant women in Durango is lower than the 92.6%-100% seroprevalences reported in pregnant women in Iran [18], Palestine [19], Brazil [20], Turkey [21], Nigeria [22], and Cuba [23].…”

Rubella susceptibility in pregnant women and results of a postpartum immunization strategy in Catalonia, Spain

“…Recent studies in other European countries reported similar data: the prevalence observed in Norway was 94.4% [23] and in England between 94.9% [24] and 97.4% [25]. In the United States, the prevalence was 91.5% [26], while in Canada the prevalence was 93.2% in Canadian-born mothers but was lower in immigrants from Northern Africa, the Middle East, China and the South Pacific [27].…”

A 16-year review of seroprevalence studies on measles and rubella

“…Adolescent and young adults aged between 15 and 30 years were identified as a group that may require booster vaccination. Several studies showed that, by this age, the level of measles and rubella antibodies were lower than other age groups studied [11,18,22,24,26,29,30,32,36,42,84,88,91,96]. Several authors recommended that teens be re-vaccinated [24,32,36,42].…”

“…Several authors demonstrated that vaccinated individuals have lower GMT compared with those acquiring immunity through natural infection [9,10,[15][16][17]19,[24][25][26]30,34,69,96,99]. There was insufficient information provided to determine if certain vaccination programmes resulted in a lower GMT.…”