This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. A two year follow-up was completed on 112 seropositive postpartum women enrolled in the study. Serial serum specimens obtained at 6-month intervals were analyzed for antibodies against the strain-specific epitopes of envelope glycoproteins, gH and gB on two laboratory strains of CMV, AD169, and Towne using bacterial fusion peptides. CMV shedding in urine and genital tract specimens was determined by rapid culture and/or PCR. The relationship between reinfection and exposure factors was examined. History of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) was present in 15/42 (38%) women with reinfection compared to 13/70 (18%) without reinfection (P<.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to other demographic characteristics, having children in daycare, and caring for other children at home. Significantly more women with reinfection (16/42) had CMV DNA was in urine or vaginal secretions than those without reinfection (9/73). These findings suggest that reinfection with different CMV strains appear to be frequent in our study population of urban, young, African-American seropositive women.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 570 publications
