Neonatal screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Tehran, Iran, using Guthrie cards
Samileh Noorbakhsh1, Mohammad Farhadi2, Faezeh Haghighi3
1Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection affects 0.34% of Iranian neonates, often without symptoms at birth. Early detection using Guthrie cards is recommended to identify congenital CMV infection in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neonatal Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital viral infections globally.
- Congenital CMV infection in Iranian neonates lacks sufficient prevalence data, despite potential long-term sequelae.
- This study addresses the data gap by investigating congenital CMV infection rates in Iranian newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in Iranian neonates.
- To evaluate the utility of Guthrie cards for early congenital CMV detection.
- To provide baseline data for public health strategies in Iran.
Main Methods:
- Guthrie cards were collected from 1174 infants within two weeks of birth.
- DNA was extracted and tested for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA using nested-PCR and a commercial CMV PCR kit.
- Newborns confirmed with CMV infection were further evaluated clinically.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was found to be 0.34% (approximately 3 per 1000 live births).
- All infected infants were asymptomatic at birth and exhibited normal hearing.
- No specific risk factors were identified for congenital CMV infection among the studied neonates.
Conclusions:
- Guthrie card testing within 21 days of life can effectively identify congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in newborns.
- Increased awareness and counseling regarding CMV among pregnant women by healthcare providers are recommended.
- Early detection and management strategies are crucial for mitigating potential long-term complications of congenital CMV.
Background And Objectives:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) constitutes the most common viral cause of congenital infections in newborns worldwide. There are a significant number of asymptomatic newborns with congenital CMV infection in Iran, which may develop long-term sequelae of infection. Unfortunately, limited data exsists from Iran on the rate of congenital CMV infection among neonates. The current study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of congenital CMV infection among Iranian neonates by testing Guthrie cards.
Materials And Methods:
Guthrie cards were collected from infants within 2 weeks of life, and total DNA was extracted from samples by thermal shock and evaluated for CMV DNA using nested-PCR assay. CMV infection in newborns was confirmed through a commercial CMV PCR kit. Infected infants underwent further evaluation at the hospital.
Results:
CMV infection was identified in four of 1174 infants (0.34%) which is approximately 3 cases per 1000 live births. Infected infants were asymptomatic at birth and had a normal hearing status similar to other children. There were no factors in relation with CMV infection among newborns.
Conclusion:
According to the results of this study, infected infants with congenital CMV infection could identify at early stage by testing Guthrie cards (within 21 days of life). Furthermore, since there is a lack of CMV knowledge in our population, educating and effective counseling by obstetricians/ gynecologists to the pregnant women are recommended.
