Is Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection a Problem in Developing Countries?

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is a common congenital infection caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV). This infection causes hearing loss and neurodevelopmental delaysin children in developed countries. The collection of data on the prevalence and implications of cCMV infection in developing countries could be challenging. Thisstudy aimed to systematically review the primary studies on the seroprevalence of cCMV infections in developing countries. An electronic database search was performed in four databases, namely, MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, EMBASE and Ovid MEDLINE, from where articles were retrieved. Human studies on the prevalence of cCMV, on the associated factors and on the impact of co-infections in developing countries and which were reported in the English language were included in thisreview. Studiesthat did not involve humans, not conducted in a developing country, and not reported in the English language were excluded from thisreview. Reviews, editorials, case reports, case series and clinical audits were also excluded from this review. A total of 26 studies were included in this study. Of which, 11 were conducted in African countries, 8 in Latin American countries and 7 in Asian countries. In these studies, dried umbilical cord, urine, saliva, blood and nasopharyngeal aspirates were used as specimens. The tests performed involved methods such as culture, PCR and ELISA. The selected studies reported on co-infections, such as HIV, rubella, malaria and gonorrhoea. The studies conducted in African countries reported the highest prevalence and transmission rates, whereas those conducted in Asian countries reported the lowest rates. Where cCMV prevalence rate differed from 0.4% to 58%, and maternal seroprevalence in fourteen studies ranged from 71.78%–100%. Socio-economic status and presence of co-infections were positively correlated with the transmission of cCMV infections.