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Cytomegalovirus transmission in special-care centers for mentally retarded children
C Y Shen1, W W Chang, S F Chang
1Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Insights
Special-care centers pose a high risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission. Children in these settings showed significantly higher CMV infection rates, suggesting frequent horizontal transmission among peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus with potential health implications.
- Understanding transmission dynamics is crucial for infection control, especially in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if special-care centers for mentally retarded children are high-risk environments for CMV transmission.
- To compare CMV infection rates in children attending special-care centers versus normal children.
Main Methods:
- Compared CMV seropositivity and viruria rates in 311 mentally retarded children (3-12 years) in special-care centers with 360 normal children.
- Utilized logistic regression analysis to identify determinants of CMV acquisition.
Main Results:
- Special-care centers had significantly higher CMV seropositivity (73.5%) and viruria (8.7%) rates compared to normal children (59.2% and 1.7%).
- CMV viruria prevalence within the center was a key factor in acquiring CMV infection.
Conclusions:
- Special-care centers are high-risk settings for CMV transmission.
- Frequent horizontal transmission among playmates/classmates is the likely cause of increased CMV prevalence in these children.
Abstract:
This study aimed to determine whether special-care centers for mentally retarded children are high-risk settings for cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission. Serum and urine specimens obtained from 311 mentally retarded children aged 3 to 12 in three centers were compared for CMV seropositivity and CMV viruria with specimens from 360 normal children of the same ages. A seropositivity rate of 73.5% and a viruria rate of 8.7% were found among the children attending special-care centers. These rates were significantly higher than the 59.2% seropositivity and 1.7% viruria found among normal children. By logistic regression analysis, it was shown that the prevalence of CMV viruria in the class/center was one of the most important determinants for acquiring CMV infection. The data suggest that acquisition of CMV from playmates or classmates occurs frequently in special-care centers and that horizontal transmission of virus is the most plausible explanation for the higher prevalence of CMV infection among mentally retarded children.