Dynamics of Persistent Oral Cytomegalovirus Shedding During Primary Infection in Ugandan Infants.

ABSTRACT: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurs frequently in young children, who, when infected, are then a major source of transmission. Oral CMV shedding by 14 infants with primary infection was comprehensively characterized using quantitative polymerase chain reaction weekly for ≥9 months. Three phases of oral shedding were identified: expansion, transition, and clearance. Viral expansion occurred over a median of 7 weeks, with a median doubling time of 3 days. During the transition phase, expansion slowed over a median of 6 weeks before peak viral load was reached. Clearance was slow (22-day median half-life), and shedding did not resolve during observation for any infant. Mathematical modeling demonstrated that prolonged oral CMV expansion is explained by a low within-host reproduction number

SUBMITTER: Mayer BT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5144733 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature