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Molecular epidemiology of primary human cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women and their families
Author(s) -
Revello Maria Grazia,
Campanini Giulia,
Piralla Antonio,
Furione Milena,
Percivalle Elena,
Zavattoni Maurizio,
Gerna Giuseppe
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.21243
Subject(s) - virology , epidemiology , human cytomegalovirus , cytomegalovirus , molecular epidemiology , betaherpesvirinae , viral disease , medicine , biology , pregnancy , herpesviridae , virus , genetics , genotype , gene
The source of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection was investigated in 29 pregnant women with primary HCMV infection by comparing DNA sequences of UL146, UL144 and a portion of UL55 gene of HCMV strains circulating within each family. Thirteen families were identified in which the pregnant woman, the husband and/or a child were shedding HCMV. In three of these families, both the woman and the husband suffered from a concomitant primary HCMV infection. Phylogenetic analysis of UL146, UL144, and UL55 genes indicated that strains circulating within each family were identical, whereas strains from different families appeared to be distinct. However, identical UL146, UL144, and UL55 DNA sequences were observed sporadically among unrelated strains. A child rather than the husband was the virus source for the great majority of pregnant women. No association was observed between UL144 polymorphisms and intrauterine transmission. J. Med. Virol. 80:1415–1425, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.