Cytomegalovirus infection

Cytomegalovirus infection, sometimes called viral salivary gland infection or inclusive cytomegaly, is an anoropic opportunistic infection and usually proceeds easily or latently (latent).

Cytomegalovirus infection is a particular hazard in pregnancy, which is due to the probability of intrauterine infection, as well as against the background of different immunodeficient conditions.

The causative agent of the disease is a DNA-genomic virus. Its slow reproduction can take place in the cell without damaging it. Inactivation of the virus occurs during freezing and heating, at room temperature it remains well enough. The comparative stability of the virus at pH 5.0 - 9.0 is noted, but at pH 3.0 its destruction occurs.

Spreading can occur by airborne, transplacental and contact routes. Cytomegalovirus infection also penetrates through sexual contact, during the transplantation of internal organs, transfusion of blood from an infected donor.

Infection of a child of an intranatal character is noted much more often than transplacental penetration. Cytomegalovirus infection is most dangerous for the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy. In such cases, disorders of intrauterine development are very likely.

Despite the high natural susceptibility of people, the most common latent form.

What is cytomegalovirus today?

It is necessary to note the main epidemiological signs of the disease. There is a general registration of the disease. The wide prevalence of infection is indicated by antiviral antibodies detected in 50-80% of adults.

However, many do not even know that there is cytomegalovirus, that this disease has a social and epidemiological significance due to the variety of ways of spreading and the polymorphism of clinical manifestations.

The ailment plays a very important role in blood transfusion, transplantology, perinatal pathology. The disease can cause birth defects, stillbirths, prematurity. In adults, infection often accompanies different states of immunodeficiency.

The growth of the frequency of infection is promoted by the constant increasing pollution of the environment, the use of immunosuppressants and cytostatics. Especially relevant in recent years has been an exacerbation of infection in people with HIV.

It should be noted that infection of the fetus in pregnant patients with a latent form of the disease is not observed in all cases. The risk of intrauterine spread of the virus to the fetus is higher for the primary onset of the disease.

Depending on the pathway of the virus, gut mucosa of the digestive tract, upper respiratory canals or genitals may serve as gates.

After penetration of the infection into the blood, a rapid localization of the pathogen occurs against the background of the introduction into mononuclear phagocytes and leukocytes, in which its replication takes place. Infected cells increase in size, there is a typical morphology with nuclear-type inclusions, which are a viral cluster. Formation is accompanied by the formation of nodular infiltrates, fibrosis, calcifications in different organs. In addition, interstitial lymphohistiocytic infiltration, the development of glandular structures in the brain, is characteristic.

Specialists define congenital in chronic and acute forms, as well as acquired infection in acute generalized or mononucleotic, as well as latent form.

An active virus is considered as an indicator of cellular immunity defects and is included in the group of AIDS-associated states.