Detection of cytomegalovirus and herpes virus infection in high risk newborns

ABSTRACT

ELISA was used to detect specific viral antibodies [IgG and IgM] for both cytomegalovirus [CMV] and herpes simplex virus II [HSV-2]. The study included 77 newborns, classified as 33 preterms, 32 infants of diabetic mothers [DMs] and 12 controls. The mean of CMV IgG and IgM were higher in preterm newborns than in IDMs and both were higher than in the control. As regards HSV-2, the mean of IgG was equal in both preterm newborns and IDMs, but higher than in controls. For IgM the mean in IDMs was higher than in preterm newborns, and both were higher than the controls. 33% of preterm newborns were CMV IgG positive and 21.2% were CMV IgM positive. As regards HSV-2, 24.2% of preterm newborns were IgG positive and 9.1% were IgM positive. Both results are statistically highly significant. With maternal infection during pregnancy, the risk for the baby to acquire congenital CMV infection is 63.71%, while it is 37.6% in cases of HSV-2 infection