Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Cytomegalovirus Infections in Adolescent Females

Abstract

Background. Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading cause of disability, including sensorineural hearing loss, developmental delay, and mental retardation. Understanding risk factors for acquisition of CMV infection in adolescent females will help determine vaccine strategies. Methods. Females (12-17 years) were recruited from primary care settings in Cincinnati, Galveston, Houston, and Nashville from June 2006 to July 2010 for a seroepidemiologic study, from which seronegative participants were recruited for a CMV vaccine trial. Participants (n = 1585) responded to questions regarding potential exposures. For those with young children in the home (n = 859), additional questions were asked about feeding and changing diapers, and for those > 14 years of age (n = 1162), questions regarding sexual activity were asked. Serum was evaluated for CMV antibody using a commercial immunoglobulin G assay. Results. Cytomegalovirus antibody was detected in 49% of participants. In the univariate analyses, CMV seroprevalence was significantly higher among African Americans, those with children < 3 years of age in the home, and those with a history of oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse. Among those with young children in the home, feeding children and changing diapers further increased the association with CMV infection. However, in the final multivariate analysis, only African Americans and household contact with young children were associated with CMV infection. Conclusions. By age 12, evidence of CMV infection was common. Multiple factors regarding race and personal behaviors likely contribute to seroconversion earlier in life.

Neighborhood Disadvantage is Associated with High Cytomegalovirus Seroprevalence in Pregnancy

“…CMV is more common among socially disadvantaged groups and nonwhite minorities [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. We have recently conducted geospatial analyses demonstrating that CMV seropositivity, including among pregnant women, significantly clusters in poor urban neighborhoods with large minority populations in North Carolina [11,12].…”

The Current Status of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Prevalence in the MENA Region: A Systematic Review

“…On the other hand, other studies, such as in Saudi Arabia, failed to show this correlation [35]. These observations, along with those from other countries around the globe [36], indicate that age was a risk factor for CMV infection, especially in transplant patients [37,38]. For instance, a study reported that the risk of death was significantly increased in patients >38 years old, who underwent transplantation with peripheral blood, with an unrelated or mismatched donor, and who developed a CMV infection [39].…”

Prevalence of CMV infection among sexually active adolescents: a matched case-control study

“…Immunity induced by wild-type CMV infection affords women a high degree of protection against acquisition of a second CMV infection and protects the fetus from severe postnatal sensorineural deafness and neurologic damage. In nearly every epidemiologic study where measured, contact with a young child younger than 3 years of age is the most important independent predictor for acquisition of CMV 2,4,9. This includes maternal acquisition of CMV during pregnancy and congenital infection 2,18.…”

“…Unfortunately, most studies reporting an association between CMV infection and sexual activity have not included contact with a young child in the home as an independent variable 1,5,6,8,10,11. Two studies have included both contact with young children and sexual activity as potential risk factors for CMV infection 2,4. After adjusting for contact with a young child, one study found sexual activity was an independent risk factor for CMV infection and the other did not.…”