Utility of Real Time Quantitative PCR in the diagnosis of Congenital and Perinatal Cytomegalovirus infection in symptomatic babies

Dr Shabina M.B.; Dr. Beena Philomina J; Dr.Priya Chandran

Volume : VII, Issue : VI, June - 2018

Utility of Real Time Quantitative PCR in the diagnosis of Congenital and Perinatal Cytomegalovirus infection in symptomatic babies

Dr Shabina M. B. , Dr. Beena Philomina J, Dr. Priya Chandran

Abstract :

Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection may be acquired congenitally, perinatally or postnatally in babies.Congenital and perinatal CMV infection can be diagnosed by viral culture or detection and quantitation of CMV DNA by RealTime QuantitativePCR (RT–qPCR) in blood ,urine and body fluids..The objective of this study was to diagnose and determine CMV load in infants presenting with clinical features suggestive of cytomegalovirus infection byRT–qPCR of urine.Thisdescriptive study was done on babies admitted to the Departments of Neonatology and Paediatrics Govt Medical College,Kozhikode from January 2016–December 2017.Urine samples from 142 babieswere received and processed in the Microbiology Department. DNA isolation and amplification was performed using commercial DNA extraction kit and PCR kit for detection and quantification of CMV. Serum samples of the babies withCMV viruria were tested for CMV IgM antibodies.Of 142 babies suggestive of CMV infection CMV–DNA was detected and quantitated in urine of 25(17.60%) (mean age 3.36 months). .CMV IgM was positive in 15/25(60%) babies with viruria.Twenty two had congenital CMV infection (cCMV) and 3 had perinatal infection.The most common clinical presentation was jaundice13( 52%).Of 8 babies started on Ganciclovir 7 responded to treatment.RT–qPCR helps in diagnosing and quantitating CMV load which helps in deciding on therapy and assessing response to treatment,and can predict risk for longterm sequelae.