title: Prevalence of anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies in a children population of Buenos Aires.
abstract: The seroprevalence of anti-Cytomegalovirus antibodies in a selected children population was studied by an enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA) prepared in our laboratory. Sera from 207 children from middle socio-economic classes were studied. Children were divided into the following groups: Group 1: cord sera (n = 87); Group 2: children aged 13 months to 6 years (n = 54); Group 3: children aged 6-15 years (n = 66). Overall seroprevalence was 46.3%. The seropositivity and ELISA index titers for the three groups were, respectively: Group 1, 55%, mean = 2.16; Group 2, 90.7%, mean = 5.15; Group 3, 59%, mean = 2.49. Group 2 exhibited higher seropositivity (p < 0.0001) and higher index titers (p < 0.0001) than the other two groups. These results suggests that primoinfection with Cytomegalovirus in this population occurs in children aged 13 months to 6 years (Group 2). However, the high percentage (55%) of cord blood without anti-Cytomegalovirus antibodies suggests a risk for congenital infection or primary infection for those newborn who required blood transfusions or were fed with bank milk. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of Cytomegalovirus infections in populations from different socio-economic classes, in congenital infections, the prevalence of antibodies in blood banks and their frequency in immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatría, Centro de Educación Médica en Investigaciones Clínicas (CEMIC), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Damilano
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Juárez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carballal
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Arana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral