High human cytomegalovirus loads and diverse linked variable genotypes in both HIV-1 infected and exposed, but uninfected, children in Africa
Bates, M.; Monze, M.; Bima, H.; Kapambwe, M.; Kasolo, F.C.; Gompels, U.A.
Virology 382(1): 28-36
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-6822 PMID: 18929378 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.09.001Document Number: 203528
Human cytomegalovirus, HCMV, was analysed using real-time quantitative PCR in symptomatic or asymptomatic pediatric cohorts from HIV-1 infected, exposed (HIV-1+ mothers), or uninfected groups in Zambia, an HIV-1/AIDS endemic region of Africa. HCMV infections were identified in 94% samples from HIV-1+ respiratory pediatric mortalities, 50% with high DNA loads of 10(3)-10(8) copies/10(6) cells. In comparison, HCMV viremia with high DNA loads, indicative of acute infections, were in 10% hospitalised febrile infants, with 50% HIV-1+. Whereas high sera loads were in 1% of asymptomatic infants, with 2% HIV-1+, and higher levels in both HIV-1 infected or exposed, but negative infants. All 8 linked-hypervariable glycoprotein gN-gO genotypes were shown, including identification of a new gN4d group with gO5 linkage (previously only Merlin reference strain), and samples with multiple infections. Overall, this shows global genotypes in Africa (unlike some herpesviruses) and acute pediatric HCMV infections in both HIV-1+ plus exposed, but uninfected infants, an emerging group.
Document emailed within 0-6 h
