Global Economic Recession: The Place of Biotechnology

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading cause of congenital infections worldwide Women infected for the first time during pregnancy are especially likely to transmit CMV to their fetuses and has been proposed as a risk factor for preterm birth. The seroprevalence of CMV in adults and the incidence of congenital CMV infection are highest in developing countries (1 to 5% of births) 90% of infected infants are asymptomatic at birth and are not recognized as at risk for CMV-associated infection. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence rate of CMV infection among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic. In this study, Two-hundred and eighty eight (288) pregnant women were enrolled. Questionnaires were issued to volunteer subjects after due consent was sought, to determine demographic and other relevant data. 5mls of blood was collected by venous puncture from the antecubital fossa and dispensed into plain containers; sera were collected after centrifugation of the blood. Sera obtained were screened for the presence of CMV (IgM) antibodies using ELISA technique (Clinotec Laboratories Canada).Result showed that out of the 288 women tested, 54 (18.8%) were positive for CMV antibodies while 234 (81.2%) tested negative. With regards to age group distribution, women within 15 – 20 years had a prevalence rate of 4.5%, 21 – 30 years both had 3.5%, 31 – 35 had 3.1%, 36 – 40 years had 1.3% while 41 – 45 years had a prevalence rate of 2.8%, all the age groups had no statistical significant (P>0.05) result. With regards to trimester of the volunteer subjects screened, 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester subjects recorded a prevalence rate of 3.1%, 9.4% and 6.2% respectively which was statistically significant (P0.05).Occupational status of subjects studied recorded no statistical significant (P0.05) result obtained showed that unemployed subjects recorded a prevalence of 5.6% compared to the self-employed with 4.9%, farmers recorded 3.8%, while students had a prevalence of 1.7% however subjects who are civil servants recorded a prevalence of 2.8%. Location of volunteer subjects studied showed that pregnant in rural areas had a prevalence rate of 12.2% while those living in urban areas recorded 6.6% prevalence without any statistical significant (P0.05).Records from this study indicates the of presence of CMV (Igm) antibodies amongst the subjects screened. Hence the need for early detection of the virus in pregnant women