Cytomegalovirus infections among low birth weight infants in a major hospital in Cairo, Egypt, (Elgalae).

Abstract

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is one of the leading causes of congenital infections, which can lead to severe foetal anomalies or even foetal loss. In order to determine the incidence of congenital HCMV infection in low birth weight neonates and the most prevalent genotype, cord blood samples were collected from a 102 full-term low birth weight neonates at the time of delivery as well as blood samples from their mothers during a four month period. Another 102 blood samples were also included in a normal weight control group. Samples were subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification and genotyping of the glycoprotein gB gene. Five cord blood samples were found to be HCMV positive (2.45%); four of which were low birth weight (3.92%) while, only one sample from the control group was HCMV positive (0.98%). Real time PCR was used for quantitative analysis of the virus among the positive samples. The Genotyping of the positive five cases revealed that four cases were gB1 and only one was gB2. The genotypes gB3 and gB4 were absent. Low birth weight is a major risk factor for congenital HCMV infection. The incidence of infection in Egypt is among the highest infection rates found in developing countries. The most prevalent genotype in Egypt is gB1.