Archives of Women Health and Care Volume 4 Issue 3 Research Open ARCH Women Health Care, Volume 4(3): 1–5, 2021 Introduction Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family, is widespread throughout the world. e seroprevalence rates of CMV vary in countries with an estimated seroprevalence of 45% to 100% in the general population [1-3]. Globally, the disease burden is highest because of congenital CMV infection. Non-primary maternal infection among seropositive women is the cause of most congenital infections in populations with high CMV seroprevalence [4] though there are potential risk factors also for pregnant seronegative women in these settings. Intrauterine transmission of this virus has been associated with both primary and non-primary maternal CMV infection resulting in birth defects and long-term developmental disabilities [4]. Permanent sequelae include Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL), microcephaly, seizures, neurologic deficits, and retinitis. e virus becomes latent Research Article Seroprevalence of Cytomegalovirus Antibodies in a Group of Bangladeshi Women in Child-Bearing Age: A Pilot Study Tasmi Tamanna 1# , Tania Mannan 1,2# , Sa’dia Tasnim 1 , Sharmina Yeasmin 3 , Rummana Mazid 4 and Rosy Sultana 1* 1 Department of Immunology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh 3 Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences General Hospital (BIHSGH), Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh 4 Department of Microbiology, Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences General Hospital (BIHSGH), Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh # Joint-first authorship *Corresponding author: Rosy Sultana, Department of Immunology, Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Mirpur, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh Received: April 09, 2021; Accepted: May 21, 2021; Published: June 01, 2021 aſter primary infection and sporadic recurrence with intermittent viral shedding may last throughout the life an important source of infection [5]. Studies in high-income and middle-income countries revealed that sensorineural hearing loss and neurological damage due to CMV infection is driven by maternal infection that occurs before 14 weeks of pregnancy [6,7]. Majority of the patients are asymptomatic but can cause life-threatening complications in immunocompromised individuals like patients with AIDS and other immune disorders, transplant recipients, individuals admitted to intensive-care units, and to some extent in elderly people [8]. In these patients, high viral loads in the urine are associated with viraemia, dissemination to multiple organs, and end‐organ diseases such as pneumonitis, retinitis, hepatitis, or gastroenteritis [9]. Transmission of CMV via blood transfusion and blood component is a matter for concern among blood bank professionals and blood transfusion recipient, particularly in cases of transfusion to neonates and immunocompromised patients. Abstract Background: Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common cause of congenital infections and can be life-threatening in immune compromised individuals. We aimed to shed light on the Seroprevalence of HCMV antibodies in women of child-bearing age in a tertiary care hospital and in a health science university of Bangladesh. Methods: A total of 84 apparently healthy 20-40 years old women (42 pregnant and 42 non-pregnant) were screened for anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Serum levels of bilirubin, and liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) were evaluated by biochemistry auto analyzers. Results: All the participants were found positive for anti-CMV IgG (100%) while 1 pregnant woman revealed positivity for both IgM and IgG justifying recent infection. CMV IgG antibody was found positive in 48 (68.6%) and 14 (100%) relatively younger volunteers in married (n=70) and unmarried (n=14) group respectively, and in 22 (31.4%) elderly volunteers of married group. Significantly higher mean value of Sample Optical Density (SOD) for CMV IgM was observed in pregnant than that of non-pregnant counterpart (p=0.023; 95% CI=0.032-0.002). Again, the mean SOD of CMV IgG was significantly lower in non-pregnant women compared to that of the pregnant women in the employed group [p=0.029; 95% CI=1.176-(-0.006)]. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the women of child bearing age are very much exposed to CMV infection. Pregnancy and working outside (employment) are two important risk factors for repeated exposure to infection as indicated by higher measured Optical Density (OD) for CMV IgG. A comprehensive study with a long-term follow-up of offspring born to HCMV IgM-positive mothers would provide estimates of an accurate percentage of symptomatic congenital HCMV infection in Bangladesh. Keywords: CMV IgM, CMV IgG antibody, ELISA, Child-bearing age