Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Infection in Pregnant Women from Western Romania

Seroprevalence and risk factors of infection were assessed among pregnant women in Western Romania. seroprevalence was evaluated in 208 pregnant women by demonstration of serum antibodies using the commercial Vitros anti- immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM assays. A questionnaire was administered to obtain information regarding the risk factors associated with seropositivity. Chi-squared tests, Fisher exact test, and Stata 9.2 (Statacorp, Texas) were used to evaluate differences between positive and negative women. antibodies were demonstrated in 116 (55.8%) of 208 pregnant women. Lower level of education and working with meat were found to be risk factors for seropositivity. Pet owners (cats and/or dogs) had a higher seroprevalence than those who did not report having any pet ( = 0.032). Women with ≥4 live births were more frequently seropositive than those without previous births ( < 0.002). Women with histories of spontaneous abortions were more frequently seropositive than those without such a history ( = 0.036). Our results indicate a high prevalence of antibodies in pregnant women in Romania. Risk factors for past infection were being in the older age group, working with meat, having pets, a lower level of education, higher gravidity, and history of spontaneous abortions. This survey provided the first data regarding risk factors for infection in pregnant women from Western Romania.