Seroanalysis of TORCH Group of Microorganisms among Pregnant Women Attending the Antenatal Clinic of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Maternal Toxoplasma, Rubella viruses, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes viruses (TORCH) infections continue to be a challenge in obstetric practice since they can cause severe congenital abnormalities. Evaluating seroprevalence among pregnant women at a tertiary care facility helps identify immunity gaps and inform the development of appropriate screening procedures. Aim: To determine the pre-intervention serological status of expectant mothers undergoing maternal clinical visits for prenatal care. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Nootan Medical College and Research Centre, Sankalchand Patel University, Visnagar, Gujarat, India, from July 2023 to January 2025. A total of 249 pregnant women aged 18-41 years were enrolled through random sampling, and blood samples were taken after obtaining informed consent. Every participant had their antibody levels checked against TORCH using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was done by parametric tests, such as Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and non parametric tests, such as Chi-square, to compute p-value, correlation coefficient (r), and Phi/Cramer’s V. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 249 pregnant women were included in the study, with a mean age of 27 years and a range of 18 to 41 years. IgM was found in 31 (12.4%) and IgG in 244 (97.99%) out of the 249 (100%) samples. Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes 2 had IgM seropositivity of 4 (1.6%), 7 (2.8%), 11 (4.4%), and 11 (4.4%), respectively. In contrast, IgG antibodies to Herpes 1+2, Rubella, Toxoplasma gondii, and CMV were detected in 71 (28.5%), 133 (53.41%), 18 (7.3%), and 241 (96.78%) of the samples, respectively. Conclusion: Women who have more pregnancies are more likely to become infected with several agents, and Women tend to be seropositive to many agents than just one. So, prenatal screening for immunity and immunisation status is recommended for women of reproductive age.