Congenital cytomegalovirus infections in sub-Saharan Africa: a neglected and growing problem

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is ubiquitous and is one of the most common viral infections of humans. It belongs to the ‘herpes’ family of viruses and encodes over 160 proteins, many of which have immunomodulatory functions. CMV infection can be acquired at any age, and most initial infections go unnoticed, although some individuals develop ‘glandular fever’-like symptoms, which usually resolve (Mocarski et al. 2007). Like all herpesvirus infections, once a person acquires primary infection, CMV remains in a latent viable form within the body from which it may periodically reactivate under circumstances of immunosuppression. CMV causes two well-established serious clinical problems that are of major public health importance worldwide: (i) congenital CMV infections due to primary maternal CMV infection subsequently transmitted in utero or through breast milk or saliva up to 3 weeks post-partum and (ii) multisystem disease in immunosuppressed patients (Mocarski et al. 2007)