A STUDY ON CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AMONG BLOOD DONORS AND ANTENATAL WOMEN

Abstract

This study was conducted during the period between June-July, 2003 to study cytomegalovirus (CMV) among blood donors and antenatal women. A total of 250 randomly selected individuals were included. One hundred and fifty were blood donors attending Khartoum blood Bank Hospital for donation and the remaining hundred were antenatal women attending Omdurman Maternity hospital for antenatal care. Data were collected by questionnaire after a verbal consent, then, venous blood was collected and tested for CMV IgG Ab, by ELISA technique (Human). The study showed that the prevalence of CMV among blood donors and antenatal women was (77%, 95%) respectively. The study also showed that surgical operation and blood transfusion increase the risk of CMV infection (RR = 1, 2, 1.1; P > 0.05). The study also showed that there was increasing risk of abortion among ladies with CMV infection. Fever and skin rash were less frequently associated with CMV infections.