[Application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of DNA-HCMV in cerebrospinal fluid of neonates and infants with cytomegalovirus infection]. / Wykorzystanie polimerazowej reakcji lancuchowej (PCR) do wykrywania DNA-HCMV w plynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym noworodków i niemowlat z zakazeniem wirusem cytomegalii.

The goal of the work was to prove the usefulness of PCR for detection of DNA-HCMV in cerebrospinal fluid of the infected newborns and infants and to compare our results with clinical diagnosis. The studied group consisted of 24 newborns and infants with HCMV infection (presence of DNA-HCMV in urine and blood, presence of specific IgM, IgG antibodies in serum, and clinical symptoms). Among 12 children with symptoms from central nervous system, DNA-HCMV was detected in CSF of 11 patients. Additionally DNA-HCMV was found in cerebrospinal fluid of 2 children IgM, IgG anti CMV positive but without CNS symptoms. Extraction of DNA from pellet was the most effective method of DNA preparation from CSF for PCR reaction. Final results were obtained approximately 7-8 hours after taking the samples for examination. Our results suggest that PCR technique as a highly specific method is very helpful for the detection of DNA-HCMV in CSF of children with CNS symptoms of disease.

[Human cytomegalovirus infection in the pre- and postnatal period with special regards to routes of infection]. / Zakazenie ludzkim wirusem cytomegalii (HCMV) w okresie przed i po urodzeniu ze szczególnym uwzglednieniem dróg zakazenia. uwzglednieniem dróg zakazenia.

The clinical course of HCMV infection in newborns and infants was discussed. Different routes and sources of infection were analyzed, especially acquired infection from the mother excreting the virus in breast milk. The usefulness of modern laboratory techniques (PCR to detect HCMV DNA and detection of antigen in leucocytes) and the importance of simultaneous tests performed in children and their mothers in stating the diagnosis was also evaluated.

[Use of polymerase chain reaction for detection of human cytomegalovirus in blood samples of children with suspected active infection with cytomegalovirus]. / Wykorzystanie polimerazowej reakcji lancuchowej do wykrywania DNA HCMV w próbkach krwi dzieci z podejrzeniem aktywnego zakazenia wirusem cytomegalii.

The aim of our study was to assess the applicability of the PCR technique for detecting HCMV DNA in blood and urine samples from infected children. The sensitivity of agarose gel electrophoresis (ethidium bromide staining) and RNA hybridization (DSSS system), the two methods used to detect PCR products, were compared. HCMV DNA was detected by the DSSS system and gel electrophoresis in 31 and 29 blood samples, respectively, taken from children with suspected infection. HCMV DNA was also detected in 29 urine samples of 31 tested children, including 5 newborns (not older than 14 days) excreting HCMV in urine and manifesting clinical signs of infection. Specific anti-HCMV antibodies were detected in 22 (71%) of the tested children.

[Long-term clinical observation of children with passively acquired anti-Toxoplasma antibodies]. / Dlugotrwala obserwacja kliniczna dzieci z biernym przeniesieniem przeciwcial przeciwtoksoplazmowych.

A group of 20 children born to mothers, suspected of active toxoplasma infection during gestation, was analysed. Multispecialist examinations carried out in children for the period of 2-3 years have shown that the specific antibodies were acquired transplacentally. This enabled to exclude an active infectious process in children.