Sero-Frequancy of Cytomegalovirus Infections among Pregnant Women in El Dammer City at River Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading healthcare problem associated with stillbirth and congenital abnormalities and determining the Sero-frequancy along with the possible risk factors associated with cytomegalovirus infections may play a cornerstone role in preventing its complications. This study was conducted during the period from May 2019 to January 2020 to determine the Sero-frequancy of CMV among pregnant women at El Damer Teaching Hospital, River Nile State, Sudan. A total of 93 pregnant women were included in this study, serum sample were collected from them, and then tested for CMV IgM and CMV IgG antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. Out of 93 pregnant women tested, 29(31.2%) and 81(87%) were CMV IgM and CMV IgG positive, respectively.The ages of pregnant women ranged from 21 to 38 years old, with mean of (28.5 ± 3.5 SD). This study showed that the pregnant women within the age group (20– 30) years were highly infected with CMV compared with the other age groups ,there were 23.6% and 66.6% positive for CMV IgM and IgG respectively and there was no association between CMV IgM and IgG and age (p value=0.8 and 0.18) respectively. In this study the level of CMV IgM and IgG antibodies was higher in those pregnant women with history of miscarriage than those without history of miscarriage. (30.1% vs 1.0%) for CMV IgM, and (60.2% vs 26.8%) for CMV IgG, and there was strong statistically difference between CMV IgM and IgG and past history of miscarriage (P value =0.00 and 0.00). Moreover, there was high frequency rate of CMV IgM among pregnant women within the second trimester of pregnancy than other pregnancy stages which was 16(17.2%) and there was association between CMV IgM and gestational stage (p value=0.028). This study concluded that there was highly frequency rate of CMV IgM among pregnant women in El Damer city. There was a strong association between CMV IgM, IgG and past history of miscarriage, and there was no association between CMV IgM, IgG and age and educational level.