title: Cytomegalovirus genotypes gB1 and gH1 are the most predominant genotypes among renal transplant recipients in Kuwait.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common pathogen responsible for asymptomatic and persistent infections in healthy individuals. However, cytomegalovirus infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients, especially in recipients of solid-organ transplants and AIDS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  HCMV DNA from 42 patients who received kidney transplants between 2004 and 2008 were subjected to polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism to identify HCMV gB and gH genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCMV gB1 and gH1 genotypes were the most the predominant HCMV genotypes (P < .05, P < .05, respectively). In addition, both HCMV gB1 and gH1 genotype were significantly more often associated with the development of fever with leukopenia and severe HCMV disease than other gB or gH2 genotypes. No significant differences were observed among viral loads between the HCMV genotypes among infected individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated the prevalence and role of HCMV genotypes in infection and disease in renal transplant patients in Kuwait.
authors.affiliation: WHO Collaborative Centre for AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease for EMR, Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. madi@hsc.edu.kw
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Madi
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al-Nakib
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacsa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saeed
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007730:Kuwait
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers