Cervical excretion cytomegalovirus: correlation with secretory and humoral antibody

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was isolated from cervical secretions of 10 of 121 outpatients at a venereal disease clinic. The buoyant densities of the DNA of five of the 10 CMV isolates were determined and found to be the same as those reported for strains isolated from other anatomical sites. Nine of 102 specimens of cervical secretions were reactive for IgG antibody to CMV, and five of 61 specimens tested were reactive for secretory IgA antibody, whereas two excretors had only IgG and secretory IgA antibody, whereas two excretors had only IgG antibody. Antibody to early antigen was identified in the sera of excretors whose cervical secretions were reactive for IgG and secretory IgA antibody.