Summary
18 women, of known seropositivity, have been followed for between 18 and 66 months (mean 50.2 months) for viral excretion and serological changes. CMV was isolated from 58/146 (39.7 per cent) cultures from various sites, mostly cervix. A total of 129 sera were obtained and each was titrated in the late antigen, early antigen and anti-complement immunofluorescence assays, as well as the complement fixation and microneutralisation tests.
From 3 women virus was consistently re-isolated, from 3 others virus was never re-isolated and the remaining 12 women excreted virus intermittently during the period of study.
No significant changes in antibody titres could be detected by any of the 5 serological assays in any woman during periods of viral excretion. This suggests that local reactivation of latent CMV infection is not associated with a demonstrable systemic antibody response.
Inter-assay correlations were sought for each of the 10 possible combinations of pairs of tests. Significant correlations were found for most pairs of tests, with the notable exception of those involving the early antigen test. This confirms that antibodies detected in this assay are distinct from those detected by the other 4 serological assays.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Armstrong, J., Evans, A. S., Rao, N., Ho, M.: Viral infections in renal transplant recipients. Infect. Immun.14, 970–975 (1976).
Chan, S. H., de The Goh, E. H.: Prospective study of Epstein-Barr virus antibody titres and survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Lanceti, 948 (1977).
Chiba, S., Striker, R. L., jr., Benyesh-Melnick, M.: Microculture plaque assay for human and simian cytomegaloviruses. Appl. Microbiol.23, 780–783 (1972).
Craighead, J. E.: Immunologic response to cytomegalovirus infection in renal allograft recipients. Amer. J. Epidemiol.90, 506–513 (1969).
Cremer, N. E., Schmidt, N. J., Jensen, F., Hoffman, M., Oshiro, L. S., Lennette, E. H.: Complement-fixing antibody in human sera reactive with viral and soluble antigens to cytomegalovirus. J. clin. Microbiol.1, 262–267 (1975).
Elek, S. D., Stern, H.: Development of a vaccine against mental retardation caused by cytomegalovirus infectionin utero. Lanceti, 1–5 (1974).
Embil, J. A., Ozere, R. L., Haldane, E. V.: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in two siblings from consecutive pregnancies. J. Pediatr.77, 417–421 (1970).
Hanshaw, J. B.: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: a fifteen year perspective. J. inf. Dis.123, 555–561 (1971).
Krech, U., Konjajev, Z., Jung, M.: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in siblings from consecutive pregnancies. Helv. Paediatr. Acta26, 355–362 (1971).
Lennette, E. H.: General principles underlying laboratory diagnosis of viral and rickettsial infections. In:Lennette, E. H., Schmidt, N. J. (eds.), Diagnostic Procedures for Viral and Rickettsial Infections. Fourth edition, 52–58. New York: American Public Health Association 1969.
Nagington, J.: Cytomegalovirus antibody production in renal transplant patients. J. Hyg.69, 645–660 (1971).
Plotkin, S. A., Just, M., Farquhar, J.: Clinical trials of immunisation with live human cytomegalovirus (Towne strain). Pediatr. Res.10, 392 (1976).
Reedman, B. M., Klein, G.: Cellular localisation of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated complement-fixing antigen in producer and non-producer lympho-blastoid cell lines. Int. J. Cancer11, 499–520 (1973).
Reynolds, D. W., Stagno, S., Hosty, T. S., Tiller, M., Alford, C. A.: Maternal cytomegalovirus excretion and perinatal infection. N. Engl. J. Med.289, 1–5 (1973).
Schmitz, H., Kampa, D., Doerr, H. W., Luthard, T., Hillemanns, H. G., Wurtele, A.: IgM antibodies to CMV during pregnancy. Arch. Virol.53, 177–184 (1977).
Stagno, S., Reynolds, D. W., Lakeman, A., Charmella, L. J., Alford, C. A.: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: consecutive occurrence due to viruses with similar antigenic compositions. Pediatrics52, 788–794 (1973).
Stagno, S., Reynolds, D. W., Tsiantos, A., Fucillo, D. A., Smith, R., Tiller, M., Alford, C. A.: Cervical cytomegalovirus excretion in pregnant and non-pregnant women: suppression in early gestation. J. inf. Dis.131, 522–527 (1975).
Stagno, S., Reynolds, D. W., Tsiantos, A., Fucillo, D. A., Long, W., Alford, C. A.: Comparative serial virologic and serologic studies of symptomatic and subclinical congenitally and natally acquired cytomegalovirus infection. J. inf. Dis.132, 568–577 (1975).
Stagno, S., Reynolds, D. W., Huang, E.-S., Thames, S. D., Smith, R. J., Alford, C. A.: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Occurrence in an immune population. N. Engl. J. Med.296, 1254–1258 (1977).
Starr, J. G., Bart, R. D., jr., Gold, E.: Inapparent congenital cytomegalovirus infection: clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in early infancy. N. Engl. J. Med.282, 1075–1078 (1970).
Stern, H., Tucker, S. M.: Prospective study of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy. Brit. med. J.ii, 268–270 (1973).
Weller, T. H., The cytomegaloviruses: ubiquitious agents with protean clinical manifestations. N. Engl. J. Med.285, 203–214, 267–274 (1971).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 3 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Griffiths, P.D., Stagno, S., Reynolds, D.W. et al. A longitudinal study of the serological and virological status of 18 women infected with cytomegalovirus. Archives of Virology 58, 111–118 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01315403
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01315403