Serological Evidence and Sociodemographic Risk Factors of Recent Cytomegalovirus Infection in Pregnant Women Attending a Tertiary Hospital in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) belongs to the family Herpesviridae, which its members are able to remain latent in various cells of the human body for a long time [1]. Globally, CMV is a very common viral infection and one of the most common causes of congenital infections. There are some evidences indicating that CMV infection leads to miscarriage and stillbirth [2]. Even in infants who are asymptomatic at birth, hearing deficits and ocular damage may appear later and progress during the first few years of life [3, 4]. Although, infection with CMV is self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Consequently, CMV establishes a latent lifelong infection, which may be reactivated by altered immune status [3, 4].