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. 2019 Nov:120:33-37.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2019.09.007. Epub 2019 Sep 17.

The impact of maternal HIV and malaria infection on the prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Western Kenya

Nancy A Otieno  1 , Bryan O Nyawanda  1 , Fredrick Otiato  1 , Martina Oneko  1 , Minal M Amin  2 , Michael Otieno  1 , Daniel Omollo  1 , Meredith McMorrow  3 , Sandra S Chaves  4 , Sheila C Dollard  2 , Tatiana M Lanzieri  5
Affiliations

The impact of maternal HIV and malaria infection on the prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Western Kenya

Nancy A Otieno et al. J Clin Virol. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Data on congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in Africa are limited.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of congenital CMV infection in a population with high prevalence of maternal HIV and malaria infection in western Kenya.

Study design: We screened newborns for CMV by polymerase chain reaction assay of saliva swabs and dried blood spots (DBS), and assessed maternal CMV immunoglobulin G (IgG) status by testing serum eluted from newborn's DBS. We calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) using log-binomial regression models.

Results: Among 1066 mothers, 210 (19·7%) had HIV infection and 207 (19·4%) had malaria infection; 33 (3·1%) mothers had both. Maternal CMV IgG prevalence was 93·1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88·3%-96·0%). Among 1078 newborns (12 sets of twins), 39 (3·6%, 95% CI: 2·7-4·9%) were CMV positive. The prevalence of congenital CMV infection by maternal HIV and malaria infection status was 5·0% (95% CI: 2·7-9·2%) for HIV only, 5·1% (95% CI: 2·7-9·4%) for malaria only, 8·8 (95% CI: 3·1-23·0) for HIV and malaria co-infection, and 2·6% (95% CI: 1·7-4·1%) for none. Congenital CMV infection was independently associated with maternal HIV infection (aPR=2·1; 95% CI: 1·0-4·2), adjusting for maternal age, parity, and malaria infection.

Conclusions: The prevalence of congenital CMV infection was higher than the 0·2-0·7% in developed countries. Maternal HIV infection may increase the risk of congenital CMV infection, but the role of maternal malaria on intrauterine transmission of CMV remains unclear.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus; HIV infections; Kenya; Malaria; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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