The reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in 71 astronauts was investigated
, using polymerase chain reaction. A significantly greater (P < .0001) shed
ding frequency was found in urine samples from astronauts before spacefligh
t (10.6%) than in urine from the healthy control subject group (1.2%). Two
of 4 astronauts studied during spaceflight shed CMV in urine. A significant
increase (P < .0001) in CMV antibody titer, compared with baseline values,
was also found 10 days before spaceflight. CMV antibody titer was further
increased (P < .001) 3 days after landing, compared with 10 days before the
mission. Significant increases in stress hormones were also found after la
nding, These results demonstrate that CMV reactivation occurred in astronau
ts before spaceflight and indicate that CMV may further reactivate during s
paceflight.