The Difference in Levels of Cytomegalovirus Antibodies Among Women in Gestation Age

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most common viral causes of congenital infection in different areas, and a leading cause of hearing impairment and a contributor to neurodevelopmental disablement in children. Reactivations and reinfections may occur conventionally in the herpes virus family group with the capacity to establish perennial latency in the host.

Through a cross-sectional study design, we studied fertile women in a public primary health care center in Karaj city in 1396. In this study, 360 volunteers from women of childbearing age were selected randomly. Then, 5 ml of blood was taken and after serum separation through centrifugation, the serums were frozen at -20°C for further ELISA test. The serums  were  examined for anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies.

The results showed that 77% of the subjects (280 out of 360) had CMV infection and none of the participants had CMV-IgM antibodies. There was no significant difference between the educational levels, the age group of 30 and under 30 years of age and the infection rate with CMV.

The results of the present study on the high prevalence of positive CMV IgG antibodies were compatible with the results of other studies performed in Iran and elsewhere in the world indicating the previous confrontation of the individuals with cytomegalovirus and the widespread dissemination of this infection in the community.