Seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in a selected population in Jamaica

The prevalence of antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV) was determined by the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a selected population of 2655 in Jamaica. The overall prevalence rate was 95 percent, increasing from 56.2 percent in children 1-4 years of age to 90 percent in the 15-19 years age group and by 25 years of age 97 percent of subjects had been exposed to CMV. The prevalence rate in children (58.4 percent) was significantly lower than that in blood donors (84 percent), sexually transmitted disease clinic attendants (95 percent) and antenatal women (97 percent) (P< 0.001). The prevalence rate in STD clinic attendants and pregnant women was also significantly higher than in blood donors (P< 0.05). The prevalence of CMV infection in the selected population, the clinical implications, routes of transmission and socioenvironmental factors are discussed (AU)

Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus herpes simplex virus (TORCH) and syphilis in Jamaican pregnant women

Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus infections (TORCH) and syphilis were determined in order to assess the immune/susceptibility status in Jamaican pregnant women in 1986. The positive rates were 57 percent (T. gondii), 69 percent (rubella), 97percent (CMV), 91 percent (HSV), and 4.9 percent (syphilis), respectively. The rate of reactivity for rubella was over 50 percent in all parishes, the highest being 85 percent in St. Thomas. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was lowest in Trelawny (37.5 percent). There were no significant differences in seropositivity of CMV and HSV infections between women from various parishes. The importance of seroprevalence of the TORCH group of agents and syphilis on perinatal morbidity and mortality in Jamaican women is discussed, and appropriate recommendations for prevention and control of congenital infections in Jamaica are suggested. (AU)

Two unusual cases of mural endocarditis, with a review of the literature

Two unusual cases of mural endocarditis are described. The first was that of a 13-year-old boy with infected burns of the legs. Autopsy revealed mural vegetations in both ventricles and cytomegalic viral inclusions were demonstrated in the vegetations, heart muscle, and endothelial cells of various organs. This appears to be the first reported case of cytomegalic inclusion viral endocarditis. A review of the literature revealed only six previous reports of cytomegalic viral myocarditis, which was also present in this case. The second case was that of a 4-year-old girl with bronchiectasis. Autopsy revealed mural vegetations in the right ventricle. Group C beta-hemolytic steptococcus was isolated from th mural vegetations, as well as from the diseased lungs. Only two previous reports of endocarditis caused by this organism are found in the literature (AU)