title: Prevalence and determinants of cytomegalovirus infection in pre-school children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to measure the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in 3.5-year-old children, and identify the determinants of seropositivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1714 children were enrolled at birth. Approximately half were small for gestational age and half were appropriate for gestational age. Information on the children was collected at birth, 1 year and 3.5 years. At 3.5 years blood was collected and tested for CMV-specific immunoglobulin by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 530 children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The weighted seroprevalence of CMV was 32.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 27.4-38.1%). The seroprevalence of CMV varied markedly by ethnicity (European: 26.5% (95% CI 20.9-32.2%); Maori: 68.0% (44.0-92.0%); Pacific: 74.5% (56.3-92.6%); Indian: 50.0% (20.2-79.8%); Chinese: 47.2% (10.8-83.5%); Other: 21.9% (0.0-52.7%); P < 0.001). Socio-economic factors, number of siblings, day care centres attendance, maternal smoking, breastfeeding and other factors examined were not related to CMV seropositivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seroprevalence of CMV in New Zealand pre-school children is similar to that reported from other developed countries. The finding of marked ethnic differences is unexplained by socio-economic factors, or other factors that were examined.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Paediatrics, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: John M D
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: David M  O
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Becroft
authors.forename: Phillipa M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Edwin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies