Prevalence of cytomegalovirus seropositivity in an urban childhood population in Cameroon.
In 1989, the prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined by the ELISA method in serum samples from 198 apparently healthy children 4-14 years old in Kumba City (Cameroon). Children were randomly recruited from six primary schools located in different districts of the city. The overall prevalence was 94.0%, increasing from 88.5% in 4-6 years old to 98% in subjects 11-14 years old. A slight male predominance was observed (96.2% versus 92.4%), which was not statistically significant. Family size and father's occupation were not associated with anti-CMV prevalence. These findings demonstrate a virtually total exposure to CMV infection by late childhood in Cameroon. However, the undesirable consequences of congenitally acquired CMV infection are rare, because nearly 100% of the women are seropositive by the time they reach childbearing age.
Laboratory of Epidemiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
T
T
Stroffolini
T
T
Ngatchu
M
M
Chiaramonte
A
A
Giammanco
M
M
Maggio
A
A
Sarzana
S
S
Taormina
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D000914:Antibodies, Viral