Rubella virus IgM and IgG antibodies with avidity in pregnant women and outcomes at a tertiary facility in Ghana
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS ONE
Abstract
Background
Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) is a recognized cause of childhood deafness and blindness caused by the trans placental transmission of rubella virus during pregnancy. Women
in the reproductive age group, and by extension their unborn babies may therefore be at
increased risk. The prevalence of Rubella virus specific IgM and IgG antibodies, including
IgG avidity, was determined in pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at a Teaching
Hospital in Ghana.
Methods
One hundred and forty-five women in their second and third trimesters of pregnancy from
the outpatient clinic were recruited over a period of 2 months after written informed consent
was obtained. Study participants completed a questionnaire and venous blood drawn for
IgM, IgG, and avidity testing using SERION ELISA (SERION® Immunologics, Wu¨rzburg,
Germany). Babies of mothers with positive or indeterminate IgM and low avidity IgG antibodies were offered specialist cardiological, ophthalmological or hearing assessment during follow up.
Results
One hundred and twenty-eight (88.3%) had only IgG antibodies, 5 (3.4%) had IgM and IgG
antibodies, while 12 (8.3%) had no antibodies. No patient had IgM antibodies alone. Ten
women (6.9%) had indeterminate levels of IgM antibodies. Majority of the women had high
avidity IgG antibodies, while 5 (3.4%) had low avidity antibodies. No patient had IgM withlow avidity antibodies. There was no statistical association between socio-demographic fac tors and the presence of IgM, IgG (low or high avidity) antibodies. Of all the children fol lowed, none had the clinical definition of CRS.
Conclusions
Consistent with the World Health Organization elimination strategy for measles and rubella
viruses, non-immune women in the reproductive age group should be vaccinated. The
immunization programme should be expanded to include teenagers and adults. Though
Congenital Rubella Syndrome was not detected, the risk still remains
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Citation
Armah NB, Sagoe KW, Nuamah M, Yawson AE, Nartey ET, Essuman VA, et al. (2022) Rubella virus IgM and IgG antibodies with avidity in pregnant women and outcomes at a tertiary facility in Ghana. PLoS ONE 17(12): e0279733. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279733