title: Relationship of IgG avidity index and IgM levels for the differential diagnosis of primary from recurrent cytomegalovirus infections.
abstract: Since the incidence of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection is low (~0.05%) and risk factors are not well defined, it is difficult to develop strategies for prevention. The aim of this study was to recognise the utility of specific Immunoglobulin G avidity analysis for distinguishing primary infection from past/recurrent infection. Sera from 50 women with cytomegalovirus specific Immunoglobulin M antibodies without proven seroconversion and infants born to these women were tested for presence of Immunoglobulin M antibodies by commercial enzyme immunoassay. For cytomegalovirus specific immunoglobulin G avidity, sera were measured by commercial kit according to manufacturer's recommendations. Among 50 sera form mothers, 26 showed the presence of Immunoglobulin M antibodies out of which 15 had low avidity antibodies. Out of 50 sera from children, 18 showed the presence of Immunoglobulin M antibodies. Out of these 18 sera from children, 12 were symptomatic, which all showed the presence of low avidity antibodies. The results showed that an avidity index <40% and presence of Immunoglobulin M antibodies is highly suggestive of a recent primary infection.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Chakravarti
authors: Bineeta
authors: B
authors: Kashyap
authors: Anupriya
authors: A
authors: Wadhwa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000378:metabolism; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M