ABSTRACT
Cytomegalovirus is the main agent of congenital viral infections. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection of 2 groups of newborns of differing socioeconomic status. Cytomegalovirus was isolated from urine or oropharyngeal secretions in 218 children born in a private clinic and 471 born in a public hospital. Positive viral isolates were confirmed with indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies. Infection was detected in 12 children (1.82 percent), 4 coming from the private clinic (1.86 percent) and 8 coming from the public hospital (1.81 percent). Ninety two percent of onfected children were asymptomatic. Urine and oropharingeal secretion samples had the same yield for viral isolation. It is concluded that the incidence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection is similar to that described in developed countries