Sero-prevalence of human cytomegalovirus infection among pregnant women attending Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral cause of congenital infection, Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is one of the most common intrauterine infections in pregnancy. It is a leading congenital infection that causes mental disorders and sensorineural deafness. Recent CMV infection presents the greatest risk of transmission and severity. cCMV infection is an important concern in pregnant women. Routine serologic testing is performed during pregnancy in most countries for rubella, syphilis, HBV, and HIV. Thus, adding CMV to ongoing serologic testing is most likely to occur.

Methods: This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) among pregnant women at AKTH. This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted in AKTH Antenatal hospital were blood was taken from pregnant women that came for antenatal care and investigated for cytomegalovirus specific immunoglobin M(IgM) antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic and clinical data were collected by questionnaire after participants consented. A total of 90 pregnant women were included in this study.

Results: Multi-gravid had the highest seroprevalence of 83.3% (5) based on their gravidity (p=0.000), while pri-gravid had 16.7%. (1). Subjects with two children at home had the highest seropositive rate of 50.6%, whereas subjects with 0 child and 3+ had 16.7% and 33.3%, respectively, but subjects with one child had no seropositive, positivity rate (p=0.000).Gravidity and parity were found to have a statistically significant relationship with CMV infection (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusion: This study provides data on HCMV epidemiology in northern Nigeria, and also provides an indicator on active CMV infection and the potential for transmission in utero.

Keywords: Congenital Cytomegalovirus; IgM-ELISA; Sensorineural deafness