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Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

D. De Mattia ,
T. Stroffolini ,
S. Arista ,
D. Pistoia ,
A. Giammanco ,
M. Maggio ,
M. Chiaramonte ,
M. E. Moschen ,
I. Mura  and
G. Rigo
...Show all authors
D. De Mattia
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Bari;
T. Stroffolini*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Epidemiology, I.S.S., Rome;
S. Arista
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Palermo;
D. Pistoia
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Palermo;
A. Giammanco
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Palermo;
M. Maggio
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Palermo;
M. Chiaramonte
Affiliation:
Departments of Gastroenterology, University of Padua;
M. E. Moschen
Affiliation:
Departments of Hygiene, University of Padua;
I. Mura
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene, University of Sassari;
G. Rigo
Affiliation:
Health District of Udine;
B. Scarpa
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene, University of Cagliari
*
*Tommaso Stroffolini, M.D., Laboratory of Epidemology, I.S.S., Viala Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Between 1987 and 1989, the prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined, by the ELISA method, in serum samples from 1494 apparently healthy subjects, 3–18 years old. Subjects were selected by a systematic cluster sampling from five geographical areas in Italy. The overall prevalence of antibody was 64·2%, increasing from 54·4% in 4–6-year-olds to 73·3% in subjects 17–18 years old (P < 0·01). Prevalence of antibody was significantly higher in females (P < 0·05) and in subjects residing in the South of Italy (P < 0·01). A significant association was found with sociodemographic factors. Subjects belonging to a household with six or more persons had a 1·5-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1·11–2·04) and subjects whose fathers had less than 6 years of schooling had a 1·4-fold risk (C.I. 95% = 1·1–1·87) of previous exposure to CMV infection. The high prevalence (74·4%) of young women who are naturally immune when entering childbearing years does not guarantee that there will be a low risk of fetal infection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 107 , Issue 2 , October 1991 , pp. 421 - 427
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

References

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