PRIMARY CYTOMEGALOVIRUS-INFECTION DURING PREGNANCY IN WOMEN OF DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Cytomegalovirus infection is the first cause of viral congential infec tions. We studied the incidence of primary cytomegalovirus infection, searching for the presence of antibodies with an ELISA technique, in 9 39 pregnant women of a low socioeconomic level, attending a public out patient clinic and 123 pregnant university students, attending a speci al outpatient clinic for students. The initially seronegative women we re tested again during the second and third trimester of pregnancy to identify primary infections. The presence of cytomegalovirus congentia l infection in the newborns of infected mothers was investigated isola ting the virus in cell cultures from urine samples. There was a higher prevalence of infection among low socioeconomic status women (95 vs 6 9.9%). Two women (one student and one coming from a low socioeconomic status) had a primary infection and in the newborn of the student, a c ongenital cytomegalovirus infection was detected. It is concluded that women's socioeconomic condition is not a risk factor for cytomegalovi rus primary infection during pregnancy.