title: The burden of infection with cytomegalovirus in England and Wales: how many women are infected in pregnancy?
abstract: A serological survey was used to investigate the epidemiology of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in England and Wales. A total of 5237 sera representing the complete age range were used reflecting the general population. The sera were collected in 1991 and 2002, and screened for CMV-specific IgG by ELISA. Antibody prevalence increased with age from approximately 15% in those aged 1-4 years to approximately 80% in those aged > or = 65 years with no association with gender or region. Analysing by common birth cohort demonstrated that between 1991 and 2002 incidence was highest in children born 1985-1989 (1.62% per year, 95% CI 0.86-2.35), lower in older children and younger adults born 1950-1984 (0.75% per year, 95% CI 0.29-1.19) with little evidence of infection in older adults born pre-1950 (0% per year, 95% CI 0-0.64). Application to population and live-birth estimates for England and Wales suggested that between 1991 and 2002, 159 996 (95% CI 67922-278277) CMV infections occurred annually with an annual average of 2133 (95% CI 816-3435) infections affecting pregnant females.
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, Immunisation Department, London, UK. andrew.vyse@HPA.org.uk
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vyse
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hesketh
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pebody
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral