title: Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus among pregnant women attending Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy is a frequent and serious threat to the fetus. As there is no vaccine alternative measures are needed to prevent congenital CMV infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study determined CMV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody among pregnant women in order to ascertain the immune status of mothers to guide policy makers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A semi-structured questionnaire was initially administered to obtain information on demographic details, stage of pregnancy and risk factors. Blood was collected by venipuncture from 180 women attending the antenatal clinic in Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, Kano State, Nigeria. Sera samples were screened using CMV IgG ELISA kit (Dialab, Austria).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 180 pregnant women, 164 (91.1%) were seropositive. Based on stages of pregnancy 6/6(100%), 52/60(86.7%) and 106/114(93.0%) were seropositive among women in the first, second and third trimesters respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seroprevalence of pregnant women to CMV Ig G is high, hence the need for CMV - IgM screening to know the extent of active infection. There is also need for public enlightenment on the methods of transmission, effective prevention and control strategies.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Laboratory Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hamid
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Onoja
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Tofa
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization Polio Reference Laboratory, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Garba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D037841:Pregnant People; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: CMV; Nigeria; immunoglobulin G; pregnant women; seropositivity