A Seroepidemiologic Study of Cytomegalovirus Infection: Limited Communicability in a Recruit Training Population
Abstract
A seroepidemiologic study for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections was performed on a military base. Four hundred ten (69.7%) of 588 incoming recruits had no detectable (<1:2) CMV complement fixation (CF) antibody. Six recruits (1.0%) seroconverted during the 14-week training period. CMV antibody rises were not observed in 45 patients with etiologically undiagnosed acute respiratory disease. Similarly, no CMV antibody rises were observed in 93 patients with Australia antigen negative viral hepatitis or in 35 patients with an infectious mononucleosis syndrome (three were monospot negative). One man was hospitalized with a 20-day history of marked generalized malaise and nocturnal diaphoresis and showed a significant CF antibody rise to CMV during hospitalization. All who showed a fourfold rise of CMV antiboyd titers had no initially detectable antibody. These data suggest very intimate contact and limited communicability as characteristics of natural transmission in our adult population. Low levels of CMV CF antibody may offer protection in the uncompromised host.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0747955
Entities
People
- David P. Mccormick
- Richard P. Wenzel
- Walter Jr E. Beam