Seroconversion for cytomegalovirus infection in a cohort of pregnant women in Québec, 2010–2013
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Epidemiology and infection ; vol. 144, no 8, p. 1701-1709.Éditeur·s
Cambridge University PressAffiliation
Résumé·s
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital infection and non-genetic
sensorineural hearing loss in children. There are no recent data on the incidence of CMV
infection during pregnancy in Canada. This present study was undertaken to determine the
seroprevalence of CMV IgG antibodies and the rate of seroconversion in a cohort of pregnant
women in the province of Québec, Canada. We used serum samples and questionnaire data
collected as part of the 3D Pregnancy and Birth Cohort Study (2010–2013) conducted in Québec,
Canada. CMV IgG antibodies were determined in serum samples collected at the first and third
trimesters. Associations between independent variables and seroprevalence were assessed using
logistic regression, and associations with seroconversions, by Poisson regression. Of 1938
pregnant women tested, 40·4% were seropositive for CMV at baseline. Previous CMV infection
was associated with: working as a daycare educator, lower education, lower income, having had
children, first language other than French or English, and being born outside Canada or the
United States. Of the 1122 initially seronegative women, 24 (2·1%) seroconverted between their
first and third trimesters. The seroconversion rate was 1·4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·9–2·1]/
10 000 person-days at risk or 3·9 (95% CI 2·5–5·9)/100 pregnancies (assuming a 280-day
gestation). The high proportion of pregnant women susceptible to CMV infection (nearly 60%)
and the subsequent rate of seroconversion are of concern.