Volume : 2, Issue : 9, September - 2013

Low Incidence of Congenital CMV Infection in North India: A Prospective Study Using Pp65 Antigenemia Assay

Dr. Prateek Bhatia, Anand S, Minz Rw, Narang A

Abstract :

Introduction: Neonates, especially pre–term infants are a high risk sub–group prone to develop CMV infection because of their underdeveloped immune system. A total of 105 neonates, 60 pre–term and 45 term symptomatic (fever, respiratory distress, cyanosis, bicytopenia, sepsis, congenital anomaly etc.), reporting to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit were sampled within 1 to 4 weeks of their birth. PP65 Antigenemia assay by indirect immunofluoroscence technique was carried out in all the cases. None of the cases showed positivity for the CMV antigen, though appropriately run control samples were all positive and the test is well established and standardized in our laboratory. This prospective study is first of its kind to be carried out in neonates in India wherein an antigen detection method was used to detect congenital CMV infection/disease and it concludes that the incidence of active CMV disease in neonatal population of Northern India is <1%.