Evaluation of IgG and IgM anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies in parturient women and their newborns in the municipality of Presidente Prudente and region, State of São Paulo

Abstract

Primary infection by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is usually followed by a persistent and/or recurrent infection. In most cases the infection is sub-clinical, but it can eventually be acute. This paper aims to evaluate by ELISA the frequency of IgG and IgM anti-CMV antibodies in 86 samples of parturient women and their newborns living in Presidente Prudente, SP, and vicinities. The samples were collected at Dr.Domingos Cerávolo University Hospital. Three parturient women (3.5%) were negative for anti-CMV antibodies, and 83(96.5%) were positive for IgG only. About the newborns, 83(96.5%) were positive for IgG only, 2(2.3%) where positive for both antibodies, and 1(1,2%) was negative for both antibodies. Results showed a high frequency of IgG anti-CMV antibodies in parturient women and their newborns. Moreover, we detected a relative high frequency of CMV congenitally infected newborns in this population, which might have an important impact on the amount of children with neurological and other diseases due to the virus infection