Birth Prevalence of Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in a cohort of pregnant women in Bangladesh

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a frequent cause of congenital infection in humans in all regions of the world. In contrast to most congenital viral infections, congenital CMV infection and disease have been consistently demonstrated in populations with a high seroprevalence. Three hundred pregnant women were studied prospectively in their 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd trimester to determine the seroprevalence and seroconversion of CMV in pregnancy. After birth, babies were also tested for anti CMV IgM to determine the rate of birth prevalence. Anti CMV IgG and IgM tests were performed by chemiluminescence methods. All 300 (100%) pregnant women were anti CMV IgG positive and 180 (60%) were subsequently anti CMV IgM positive during different trimesters of pregnancy. Birth prevalence of CMV IgM antibody was 1.3% among babies of anti CMV IgM positive mothers whereas none in CMV IgM negative mothers (OR 1.01, 95% CI .996-1.027).It may be concluded that CMV IgG seroprevalence is high among Bangladeshi pregnant women and the rate of CMV reactivation is also high during pregnancy. Despite protection by maternal immunity a certain percent of babies acquire congenital CMV infection.