Human cytomegalovirus reinfection is associated with intrauterine transmission in a highly cytomegalovirus-immune maternal population.

Abstract

To determine contribution of reinfection with new strains of cytomegalovirus in cytomegalovirus seromimmune women to incidence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection. In 7848 women studied prospectively for congenital cytomegalovirus infection from a population with near universal cytomegalovirus seroimmunity, sera from 40 mothers of congenitally infected infants and 109 mothers of uninfected newborns were analyzed for strain-specific anticytomegalovirus antibodies. All women were cytomegalovirus seroimmune at first prenatal visit. Reactivity for 2 cytomegalovirus strains was found in 14 of 40 study mothers and in 17 of 109 control mothers at first prenatal visit (P = .009). Seven of 40 (17.5%) study women and 5 of 109 (4.6%) controls (P = .002) acquired antibodies reactive with new cytomegalovirus strains during pregnancy. Evidence of infection with more than 1 strain of cytomegalovirus before or during current pregnancy occurred in 21 of 40 study mothers and 22 of 109 controls (P < .0001). Maternal reinfection by new strains of cytomegalovirus is a major source of congenital infection in this population.