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Rubella can be a disastrous disease in early gestation, leading to fetal death, premature delivery, and an array of congenital defects. In this study we tried to determine the preset states of immunity against Rubella virus among high-school girl pupils in Gorgan city in the north east of Iran. A total of 484 blood samples collected randomly from 484 school girl pupils for the detection of antibody against Rubella virus. Rubella antibody determined by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test. From total of 484 high-school girl pupils 88 (18.2%) were found susceptible to Rubella infection and 396 (81.8%) were immune to this infection. Our results show significant relation between immunity, age and history of previous vaccination against Rubella.

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Background and Objective: Primary TORCH (Toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus) and Treponema palidum infections in the mothers can lead to severe fetal anomalies. This study was done to explore the prevalance of TORCH antibodies in newborns with congenital malformations and their mothers in Gorgan-Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was done on newborns with major congential malformations, during 20 months (2003-04) in Dezyani hospital- a referal gynecology center in Gorgan, in north of Iran. The blood sample of 64 newborns with congenital malformations and their mothers collected. Serologic testes were done on newborns and mothers' sera to determine IgM and IgG levels against rubella, toxoplasma gondeie, Cytomegalo virus, Herpes simplex type II with ELISA test. For Terponema palidum PRP test was used. Results: Four of 64 infants (6 %) had positive IgM antibody titers for Toxoplasma, Rubella, and Cytomegalovirus. Nine of mothers with affected newborns (14%) had positive IgM antibody titers for Toxoplasma, Rubella, and Cytomegalovirus. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalance of TORCH antibodies are observed in 6% of birth defects, in this region.

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Background & Objective: Rubella vaccine is prepared with live virus thus if it injects during abstinence period, it can cause fetal risks. The aim of study was to evaluate rubella IGM among infants of women who were vaccinated against rubella during 3 months pre-or post-conception (abstinence period). Materials & Methods: This cohort study was done on 253 mothers, including 116 mothers as cases and 137 mothers as controls. The case group inadvertently had received MR vaccine (RA27/3) during abstinence period. The control group selected randomly from similar delivery center that admitted for delivery. The background and confounding factors was matched between the control and case groups. In both groups after delivery, cord rubella IGM was measured by ELISA for serological diagnosis of infant infection. Data was analyzed by Chi-square and T-student tests. Results: The findings showed that the number of positive IGM infant was similar in both groups (One positive IGM in each group). In spite of no significant difference between the case and the control groups, the maximum theoretical risk in this study was 4.392% (RR=1.091 95% CI=0.271-4.392). Conclusion: Although no significant difference was found from the point of infants with an IgM+ serology in two groups, according to the risk ratio obtained in this study, we still recommend vaccination should be avoided during abstinence period.