14th ICID - Poster Abstracts - International Society for Infectious ...

When citing these abstracts please use the following reference:
Author(s) of abstract. Title of abstract [abstract]. Int J Infect Dis 2010;14S1: Abstract number.
Please note that the official publication of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2010, Volume 14, Supplement 1
is available electronically on http://www.sciencedirect.com
Final Abstract Number: 79.004
Session: Obstetrical-Gynecological, Surgical and Sexually Transmitted Infections
Date: Friday, March 12, 2010
Time: 12:30-13:30
Room: Poster & Exhibition Area/Ground Level
Type: Poster Presentation
Frequent infections in Mexican women experiencing spontaneous pregnancy loss
L. Conde-Ferráez 1 , R. Suarez-Allen 1 , L. Manzano-Cabrera 1 , M. R. Gonzalez-Losa 1 , G. Koh-Tec 2 ,
M. Perez-Tuyub 2 , J. Camara-Mejia 1 , J. Carrillo-Martinez 3 , M. Puerto-Solis 1
1 Centro de Investigaciones Regionales, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan,
Mexico, 2 Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, 3 Instituto Mexicano del
Seguro Social, Merida, Mexico
Background: Some maternal infections especially during the early gestation can result in fetal
loss or malformations. Gestation represents an altered immunological state which could
predispose to various infections, and in particular, latent viral infections might be reactivated
during this period. In this study we aimed to determine the prevalences of viral and protozoan
pathogens, within women at reproductive age experiencing spontaneous pregnancy loss in
southeast Mexico, and the epidemiological variables present.
Methods: Women requiring medical attention for spontaneous abortion in a Social Security
Hospital were randomly invited to participate. After consent, an interview was applied; serology
tests for IgM antibodies against human cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes Simplex virus (HSV), and
Toxoplasma gondii were performed. Cervical cells were PCR tested for Human Papilomavirus
(HPV) infection.
Results: From 143 participants, 113 (79.6%) were younger than 35 years old, and only 11 (7.7%)
were younger than 20 years old. 90% presented miscarriages on the first trimester. 19.6% had
experienced a previous pregnancy loss; 33.6% had never given birth to a live child and 66.4%
had delivered one or more live children.
From 141 serum samples tested, 60.3% (85/141) were positive to any of the infections: 17 (12 %)
were T. gondii positive; 67 (47.5%) were CMV positive and 40 (28.4%) HSV positive. From 139
cervical samples tested, 34 (24.4%) were HPV+. Interestingly, 27.3% of HPV positive women
have had repetitive abortions comparing to 17.4% of HPV negative women. Multiple infections
were found in 42.4% of the seropositive samples, and importantly 19 (22.3%) were also positive
to HPV cervical infection. One patient was positive to all infections.
Conclusion: Pregnancy loss is attributed to several factors including maternal age. It was
worrisome finding a high frequency of spontaneous abortions at young age. Recognizing
infections in the mother is an important part of prenatal care. HPV prevalences found were higher
than previously reported for southeast Mexico. HPV studies in our region are particularly
important because the incidence of cervical cancer is amongst the highest in Mexico. Also, the
highest nationwide incidence of clinically identified genital herpes is reported for our State.
Although our data are limited, the high prevalences of infectious agents often related to
pregnancy loss and the high frequency of multiple infections found in women at reproductive age
set important basis for further investigation.