Salivary cytomegalovirus (CMV) shedding, glycoprotein B genotype distribution, and CMV disease in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive patients

To assess the frequency of shedding of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in saliva, the distribution of CMV glycoprotein B (gB) genotypes, and the occurrence of C MV diseases, we screened 98 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- seropositiv e patients without CMV disease. CMV was detected by culture more frequently in saliva (45 [46%] of 98 patients) than in blood (7 [7.5%] of 93) and was associated with CD4 cell counts <100 cells/mm(3) (P = .013). CMV in the sa liva of 37 patients was successfully genotyped. Three patients (8%) were in fected by a gB1 strain, 26 (70%) by a gB2 strain, 2 (5.5%) by a gB3 strain, 1 (3%) by a gB4 strain, and 5 (13.5%) by mixed gB strains. Thirteen patien ts developed CMV disease after a mean period of 143 +/- 112 days; at inclus ion, 9 (69%) had salivary CMV shedding and 2 had CMV viremia. CMV salivary shedding (P = .043), low CD4(+) cell count (P = .041), and CMV viremia (P = .011) were associated with occurrence of CMV disease.