Studies on congenital infections in infants in Sudan: Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus

Abstract

The occurrence of congenital infections in Khartoum State and the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) antibodies among pregnant women (IgG) and neonates (IgM) were studied. During 2002-2007 the total of births reported at Omdurman was 122503 with 2.4% deaths. In Khartoum province during 2004-2007 out of 6138 deliveries, 178 had died. The main reported congenital infections were jaundice, anomalies, hydrocephalus, and respiratory infections. In Omdurman the total infected neonates were 3189 with 873 deaths, retardation of growth had the higher percentage in infected cases and deaths. In Sudan during 2005-2007, respiratory infections had the higher number of reported clinical signs and Khartoum had the higher number of infections. Using ELISA 59 out of sixty (98.3%) pregnant women at last stage of pregnancy were positive for CMV IgG. Fifty out of 53 neonates plasma were positive for CMV IgM (94.3%). CMV was found to be highly prevalent in Khartoum State and it has a major role in causing congenital infections.