Yemen Science يمن ساينس: الشبكة اليمنية للعلوم والبيئة، موقع يهتم بأخبار العلوم والتكنولوجيا والصحة والبيئة والسكان
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A new study by researchers from Thamar University, Albaydha University, and Southern Medical University in China has found that Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was the most common previous infection among pregnant women with a history of recurrent miscarriage in Dhamar, Yemen. The research also found that markers of recent anti-phospholipid antibody activity were more frequent than recent infections with CMV, Toxoplasma gondii or Rubella.
The study, published in the Thamar University Journal of Natural & Applied Sciences, analysed blood samples from 200 pregnant women aged between 15 and 38 years who had experienced one or more unexplained miscarriages. Participants were recruited from hospitals, reproductive health centres, private clinics and diagnostic laboratories across Dhamar City. Researchers used ELISA blood tests to detect antibodies against CMV, Rubella, Toxoplasma gondii, and anti-phospholipid (APL) antibodies, all of which have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
What the researchers found
The analysis showed that 92.5% of participants carried IgG antibodies against CMV, suggesting previous exposure to the virus. Rubella IgG antibodies were detected in 87% of women, while 62.5% tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies.
Evidence of more recent exposure was considerably lower. Anti-phospholipid IgM antibodies were detected in 20% of participants, followed by Toxoplasma IgM (7.5%), CMV IgM (7%), and Rubella IgM (3.5%). According to the researchers, IgM antibodies generally indicate a recent or primary infection, whereas IgG antibodies reflect previous exposure or past infection.
Rural women and younger age groups represented a larger share
The study found that 53% of participants lived in rural areas, compared with 47% from urban settings. Women aged 21 to 26 years represented the largest age group within the study population. While the research identified differences in antibody prevalence across age, education level and place of residence, CMV remained the most prevalent marker of previous infection across nearly all groups.
Why it matters
Many infections that can affect pregnancy produce few or no symptoms in the mother. However, if acquired during early pregnancy, they may increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or congenital abnormalities.
The authors argue that expanding routine antenatal screening and improving awareness of maternal infections could help identify women at risk earlier. They also recommend strengthening preventive measures, including Rubella vaccination for women of childbearing age where clinically appropriate, alongside further research into maternal infectious diseases. Important limitations
The researchers caution that the study was cross-sectional, meaning it measured antibody prevalence at a single point in time and cannot establish that these infections directly caused the miscarriages. In addition, all participants had a history of pregnancy loss and were recruited from healthcare facilities in Dhamar City, meaning the findings cannot automatically be generalised to all pregnant women in Yemen.
The study concludes that CMV was the most widespread marker of previous infection among women in the cohort, while recent anti-phospholipid antibody positivity was the most common marker identified. The authors say larger studies and stronger maternal health screening programmes are needed to better understand the role of infectious diseases in pregnancy loss and to support preventive healthcare in Yemen.
