Prevalence of cytomegalovirus seropositivity in an urban childhood population in Cameroon
Stroffolini, T.; Ngatchu, T.; Chiaramonte, M.; Giammanco, A.; Maggio, M.; Sarzana, A.; Taormina, S.
New Microbiologica 16(1): 83-85
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-7138 PMID: 8385733 Document Number: 416176
In 1989, the prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined by the ELISA method in serum samples from 198 apparently healthy children 4-14 years old in Kumba City (Cameroon). Children were randomly recruited from six primary schools located in different districts of the city. The overall prevalence was 94.0%, increasing from 88.5% in 4-6 years old to 98% in subjects 11-14 years old. A slight male predominance was observed (96.2% versus 92.4%), which was not statistically significant. Family size and father's occupation were not associated with anti-CMV prevalence. These findings demonstrate a virtually total exposure to CMV infection by late childhood in Cameroon. However, the undesirable consequences of congenitally acquired CMV infections are rare, because nearly 100% of the women are seropositive by the time they reach childbearing age.