[Distribution of cytomegalovirus in children and adults in the Munich area (author's transl)]

Abstract

In a regional contamination study 798 healthy persons from the Munich area were examined for cytomegalovirus antibodies. The highest proportion of antibodies (60%) was found in neonates in the first days of life. At the age of 6 to 24 months, only 10% of the children were still seropositive. At this time the maternal antibodies were no longer important. In late adult life, 57% of those examined possessed antibodies against the virus. An attempt was also made to isolate the cytomegalovirus from the urine of 157 healthy persons. This isolation was only possible in three apparently healthy infants aged from 3 to 12 months.