Cytomegalovirus Seroprevalence and Birth Prevalence of Congenital CMV Infection in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is a leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and neurodevelopmental disabilities in developed countries. Although high cCMV rates have been reported in populations with high seroprevalence, the cCMV prevalence in low/middle-income countries in Europe has not been defined. Objective: To determine cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence and the cCMV prevalence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Between March 2010 and February 2019, 5222 sera samples from patients seen at the University Clinical Hospital Mostar were tested for CMV IgG. The cord blood samples collected from 2091 infants between July 2011 and January 2013 were analyzed for CMV IgG and CMV DNA. The cCMV prevalence was determined by testing saliva swabs from 1293 infants between November 2015 and October 2016. Results: The overall CMV IgG prevalence was 81.4% (95% confidence interval: 0.8–0.82). Significantly higher prevalence was observed among females (84.9%) than in males (77.0%), and the rate increased from 50.8% in the 1 to 5 years group to 97.7% in the group > 65 years old. Most cord blood samples (2091/1925, 92.1%) were CMV IgG positive, and 2 (0.1%) were CMV DNA positive. Of the 1293 saliva swabs, 8 (0.62%; 95% confidence interval: 0.3–1.2) were CMV positive. All 8 infected infants had asymptomatic cCMV, and none had SNHL at 18 months of age. Conclusions: In a highly CMV seropositive population, the prevalence of cCMV was lower compared with that reported from other low/middle-income countries populations. None of the infected infants had symptomatic infection or SNHL at 18 months.

The cytomegalovirus seroprevalence among children in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: A hospital cross-sectional study

“…Furthermore, above mentioned recent study showed overall seroprevalence of 81.4% among all patients and gender difference in patients older than 20 years were not demonstrated. 22 Also, results from our study did not show difference in CMV seroprevalence related to the gender among children and the overall CMV seroprevalence among paediatric population was 56.5% showing for the first time valuable results paediatric population in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, we can conclude that CMV seroprevalence among paediatric population in Bosnia and Herzegovina is higher than in most western European countries, but lower than seroprevalence in Asian and African countries.…”

“…20 Recently, the study performed on pregnant women in Tuzla and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina found high CMV seroprevalence of 93% and 92%, respectively. 21,22 In accordance to this, we could presume that CMV seroprevalence among paediatric population in Bosnia and Herzegovina would be same as in low SES and developing countries from Asia or Africa. 5,6 Additionally, Jansen et al found that by the age of three almost all children in countries with low SES were CMV seropositive whereas CMV seroprevalence varies between 40 and 60% among developed European countries.…”

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection Burden and Epidemiologic Risk Factors in Countries With Universal Screening

“…A total of 77 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The final studies were from 36 countries (eFigure 3 in the Supplement ) on 5 continents and are categorized by World Health Organization regions as follows: Africa, 6 countries (6 studies) 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ; Americas–Latin, 5 countries (9 studies) 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ; Americas–US and Canada, 2 countries (18 studies) 17 , 18 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ; Eastern Mediterranean, 1 country (3 studies) 61 , 62 , 63 ; Europe, 16 countries (24 studies) 8 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 ,…”

A systematic literature review of the global seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus: possible implications for treatment, screening, and vaccine development

“…These articles reported data for general populations, healthy or immunocompetent populations (ie, without specific diseases and otherwise healthy), and adults. Among adults, seroprevalence ranged most broadly in European countries (44.4-95.7%) [ 32 , 35 – 37 , 40 , 41 , 48 – 51 ], with the narrowest range observed for Japanese studies (67.2-70.9%; Fig. 3 ) [ 52 , 53 ].…”