Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysis

Abstract Background Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) spreads through direct contact with blood, and other body fluids such as urine, saliva and breast milk. It is transmitted sexually and can also be passed from a pregnant mother to fetus via the placenta. While often asymptomatic in healthy individuals...

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Main Authors: Narapity Pathirannehalage Sunil-Chandra, Madawala Vithanage Madusha Lakmali Jayasundara, Maththe Gama Ralalage Shobha Sanjeewani Gunathilaka, Suduwa Dewage Himal Suminda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10594-2
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author Narapity Pathirannehalage Sunil-Chandra
Madawala Vithanage Madusha Lakmali Jayasundara
Maththe Gama Ralalage Shobha Sanjeewani Gunathilaka
Suduwa Dewage Himal Suminda
author_facet Narapity Pathirannehalage Sunil-Chandra
Madawala Vithanage Madusha Lakmali Jayasundara
Maththe Gama Ralalage Shobha Sanjeewani Gunathilaka
Suduwa Dewage Himal Suminda
author_sort Narapity Pathirannehalage Sunil-Chandra
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) spreads through direct contact with blood, and other body fluids such as urine, saliva and breast milk. It is transmitted sexually and can also be passed from a pregnant mother to fetus via the placenta. While often asymptomatic in healthy individuals, HCMV causes symptomatic infections in immunocompromised people and congenital infections in fetuses. It is a common global congenital infection and can lead to morbidity and occasional mortality in newborns. Latent HCMV may reactivate in immunosuppressed individuals. This study aimed to determine the age and gender specific seroprevalence of HCMV in selected populations in Sri Lanka. Methods A total of 820 blood samples obtained from 820 participants of selected low and high-risk populations in Sri Lanka, namely; hospital inpatients (n = 200), antenatal women (n = 80), blood donors (n = 80), cancer patients (n = 200), Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinic attendees (n = 160) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients on haemodialysis (n = 100) were tested for IgG antibodies against HCMV by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 30 (IBM® Corporation, New York, USA). Results Overall HCMV seroprevalence was found to be 94.9% (778/820), whereas in males it was 95.2% (395/415) and in females it was 94.6% (383/405) (p = 0.691). Seroprevalence of HCMV in hospital inpatients, antenatal women, blood donors, cancer patients, STD clinic attendees and CKD patients on haemodialysis were found to be 92.5% (185/200), 100% (80/80), 90% (72/80), 96% (192/200), 93.1% (149/160) and 100% (100/100) respectively. Overall seroprevalence of HCMV increases with age ranging from 94.3% (33/35) in 15–19 years age group to 98.8% (84/85) in ≥ 60 years age group. Conclusions Seroprevalence of HCMV in diverse low and high-risk populations of Sri Lanka was studied for the first time. HCMV seroprevalence is similar between genders (p > 0.05) and increases with age. Over 90% of individuals are infected with HCMV by age 15, indicating a high prevalence of primary infections from early childhood to adolescence. This study provides essential background information on HCMV infection and its impacts in diverse populations of Sri Lanka and aids in executing preventive and therapeutic measures in high-risk populations.
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spelling doaj-art-c3242defc38f43b39984e87dfb6a63d12025-02-09T12:14:26ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-02-012511710.1186/s12879-025-10594-2Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysisNarapity Pathirannehalage Sunil-Chandra0Madawala Vithanage Madusha Lakmali Jayasundara1Maththe Gama Ralalage Shobha Sanjeewani Gunathilaka2Suduwa Dewage Himal Suminda3Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of KelaniyaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of KelaniyaDepartment of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri LankaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of KelaniyaAbstract Background Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) spreads through direct contact with blood, and other body fluids such as urine, saliva and breast milk. It is transmitted sexually and can also be passed from a pregnant mother to fetus via the placenta. While often asymptomatic in healthy individuals, HCMV causes symptomatic infections in immunocompromised people and congenital infections in fetuses. It is a common global congenital infection and can lead to morbidity and occasional mortality in newborns. Latent HCMV may reactivate in immunosuppressed individuals. This study aimed to determine the age and gender specific seroprevalence of HCMV in selected populations in Sri Lanka. Methods A total of 820 blood samples obtained from 820 participants of selected low and high-risk populations in Sri Lanka, namely; hospital inpatients (n = 200), antenatal women (n = 80), blood donors (n = 80), cancer patients (n = 200), Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinic attendees (n = 160) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients on haemodialysis (n = 100) were tested for IgG antibodies against HCMV by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 30 (IBM® Corporation, New York, USA). Results Overall HCMV seroprevalence was found to be 94.9% (778/820), whereas in males it was 95.2% (395/415) and in females it was 94.6% (383/405) (p = 0.691). Seroprevalence of HCMV in hospital inpatients, antenatal women, blood donors, cancer patients, STD clinic attendees and CKD patients on haemodialysis were found to be 92.5% (185/200), 100% (80/80), 90% (72/80), 96% (192/200), 93.1% (149/160) and 100% (100/100) respectively. Overall seroprevalence of HCMV increases with age ranging from 94.3% (33/35) in 15–19 years age group to 98.8% (84/85) in ≥ 60 years age group. Conclusions Seroprevalence of HCMV in diverse low and high-risk populations of Sri Lanka was studied for the first time. HCMV seroprevalence is similar between genders (p > 0.05) and increases with age. Over 90% of individuals are infected with HCMV by age 15, indicating a high prevalence of primary infections from early childhood to adolescence. This study provides essential background information on HCMV infection and its impacts in diverse populations of Sri Lanka and aids in executing preventive and therapeutic measures in high-risk populations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10594-2SeroprevalenceHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV)Hospital inpatientsAntenatal womenCancer patientsSTD clinic attendees
spellingShingle Narapity Pathirannehalage Sunil-Chandra
Madawala Vithanage Madusha Lakmali Jayasundara
Maththe Gama Ralalage Shobha Sanjeewani Gunathilaka
Suduwa Dewage Himal Suminda
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysis
BMC Infectious Diseases
Seroprevalence
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)
Hospital inpatients
Antenatal women
Cancer patients
STD clinic attendees
title Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysis
title_full Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysis
title_fullStr Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysis
title_full_unstemmed Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysis
title_short Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) trends in Sri Lanka: insights from a hospital-based seroprevalence analysis
title_sort human cytomegalovirus hcmv trends in sri lanka insights from a hospital based seroprevalence analysis
topic Seroprevalence
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)
Hospital inpatients
Antenatal women
Cancer patients
STD clinic attendees
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-10594-2
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