CMV-DNA DETECTION IN PARENCHYMATOUS ORGANS IN CASES OF SIDS

A nested PCR approach has been developed especially for the detection of small amounts of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA in autopsy samples. Lung tissue and submandibular glands in 118 cases of infant death (92 SIDS cases, 13 natural deaths due to other defined causes and 13 unnatural deaths) were investigated by this technique and compared to the resul ts obtained by other CMV detection methods (histology, immunohistochem istry, in situ hybridization and PCR). CMV-DNA could be detected in th e lung tissue in 7 cases of SIDS using nested PCR. Compared to convent ional PCR (3 positive cases in lung tissue) the nested approach always gave glear results and showed less additional bands. In all cases whe re CMV could be detected in the lungs, positive results were also obta ined in the submandibular glands. The nested PCR method proved to be a more sensitive technique than the other detection methods including P CR and hot start, and even minimal amounts of target DNA could be dete cted in the presence of human and bacterial background DNA.