The seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in Belgium anno 2002 and 2006: a comparative analysis with hepatitis A virus seroprevalence. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smit, G. S. A.; Abrams, S.; Dorny, P.; Speybroeck, N.; Devleesschauwer, B.; Hutse, V.; Jansens, H.; Theeten, H.; Beutels, P.; Hens, N.
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and infection. Volume 147(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: Cytomegalovirus, -- hepatitis A virus, -- estimating age and birth cohort-specific seroprevalence, -- seroincidence, -- mixture modelling; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268819000487
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-2688

Abstract

Abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is endemic worldwide but its seroprevalence varies widely. The goal of this study was to estimate the age-specific seroprevalence of CMV infection in Belgium based on two cross-sectional serological datasets from 2002 and 2006. The seroprevalence was estimated relying on diagnostic test results based on cut-off values pre-specified by the manufacturers of the tests as well as relying on mixture models applied to continuous pathogen-specific immunoglobulin G antibody titre concentrations. The age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV), based on three Belgian cross-sectional serological datasets from 1993, 2002 and 2006, was used as a comparator since individuals acquire lifelong immunity upon recovery, implying an increasing seroprevalence with age. The age group weighted overall CMV seroprevalence derived from the mixture model was 32% (95% confidence interval (CI) 31–34%) in 2002 and 31% (95% CI 30–32%) in 2006. We demonstrated that CMV epidemiology differs from the immunizing infection HAV. This was the first large-scale study of CMV and HAV serial datasets in Belgium, estimating seroprevalence specified by age and birth cohort.