Seroprevalence of rubella and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pregnant women from Kerala State.

Prevalence of rubella antibody in 536 and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody in 260 pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic, in India, was studied by means of hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test (for rubella antibody) and complement fixation test (CFT-for CMV antibody). The antibody detection rate in pregnant women was 74.1% for rubella and 85.4% for CMV. The prevalence rate of CMV infection was higher during third trimester (89.6%), while rubella antibody was more prevalent during second trimester (77.5%). The geometrical mean titre (GMT) was 73 for rubella antibody and 57 for CMV. Further, rubella antibody was found to be more prevalent in the age group of 26-30 years (76.8%), while for CMV, the highest prevalence rate was seen in 21-25 years (89.2%). The present study indicates the potential possibility of primary rubella infection in 26.0% and CMV infection in 15.0% of the susceptible women during pregnancy and the development of congenital malformations in children born to the infected women.