Seroprevalence and susceptibility to primary cytomegalovirus infection among childbearing women

Background: Amaternal primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during pregnancy is more likely to transmit CMV frommother to fetus with more severe sequelae of congenital infection compared with a maternal non-primary CMV infection (reinfection or reactivation). The aim of this study is the evaluation of CMV seroprevalence and susceptibility to primary CMV infection among Greek and immigrant pregnant and non-pregnantwomenof reproductive age. Methods & Materials: From January 2011 to September 2013, a total of 3,121 pregnant and non-pregnant women of childbearing age, were tested for CMV-IgG and IgM antibodies. Out of 3,121 women the 1,683 were Greeks and 1,438 were immigrants from developingcountries.Of the1,683Greeksand1,438 immigrants the 755 and 815 respectivelywere pregnant. Detection of CMV-specific IgG and IgM antibodies was carried out by EIA and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ABBOTT, AxSYM CMV IgG and IgM Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay and Roche CMV IgG and IgM electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on cobas e 411 analyzer) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Results: CMV-IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in 617 (66.49%) and 7 (0.75%) non-pregnant and 537 (71.12%) and 2 (0.26%) pregnant Greek women respectively, whereas CMV IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in 581 (93.26%) and 7 (1.12%) non-pregnant and 789 (96.81%) and 1 (0.12%) pregnant immigrant women respectively. The susceptibility to primary CMV infection of non-pregnant and pregnant Greek women was found to be 33.51% (311/928) and 28.88% (218/755) respectively, whereas the susceptibility to primary CMV infection of no-pregnant and pregnant immigrant women was 6.74% (42/623) and 3.19% (26/815) respectively. Statistical analysis by x2 test showed significantly higher susceptibility to primary CMV infection in non-pregnant and pregnant Greek women than in immigrant women. Conclusion: (a) The prevalence of specific antibodies to CMV in pregnant and non-pregnant Greek women of childbearing age is high. (b) The CMV seroprevalence in pregnant and non-pregnant immigrant women is significantly higher than in Greek women. (c) The susceptibility to primary CMV infection is significantly higher in pregnant and non-pregnant Greek women than in immigrants. (d) A remarkable number of Greek women of reproductive age remain at risk of primary CMV infection during pregnancy.