Restriction endonuclease analysis of cytomegalovirus DNA from strains isolated in day care centers

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) strains isolated in a previous study from children in group day care have been analyzed by restriction endonuclease cleavage of DNA. CMV was isolated from 16 of 60 children (27%) in several centers in Stockholm. In one center (Center A) 7 of 20 children excreted CMV and all were in the same group. In another center (Center B) 5 of 16 children were CMV-positive. In Center A three children excreted CMV strains with identical DNA cleavage patterns. The other four strains had different unique patterns as had those isolated in Center B. This finding provides evidence that CMV can be transmitted between children in group day care.