title: Levels of cytomegalovirus seropositivity in homosexual and heterosexual men.
abstract: The prevalence of antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) among 57 homosexual men (77.2%) was significantly higher than that among 155 heterosexual men (32.3%) attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic. The difference in prevalences was most pronounced in those under 30 years of age. No difference in CMV seroprevalence was observed between the heterosexual patients and a control group of blood donors. The geometric mean titer of seropositive homosexuals (1:79) was significantly higher than that of heterosexuals (1:28) in both younger and older age groups. These data suggest that homosexual men are exposed to CMV at a much earlier age than heterosexuals and that homosexuals experience frequent reactivation or reinfection with CMV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam Hospital for Children.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Embil
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: MacNeil
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Manley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haase
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral