Abstract

DETECTION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS AS A POSSIBLE VIRAL CAUSES OF INFECTION MONONUCLEOSIS BY USING POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION IN SUDANESE PATIENT PRESENTING TO MAJOR HOSPITALS IN KHARTOUM STATE, SUDAN

Moustafa B. Ahamed* and Khalid A. Abdelhalim

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus is members of the human herpesviruses, the initial infection with CMV is usually asymptomatic, or causes a febrile illness, but can rarely manifest itself. Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical syndrome that is most commonly associated with (CMV) infection and other infectious agents, and may be associated with several acute complications. The present study conducted to determine the possible viral causes of infectious mononucleosis in Sudanese patients attending major hospital in Khartoum State, Sudan. Materials and Methods: Under aseptic condition, 4 mls of venous blood were collected in sterile EDTA container from 90 patients, 49 with infectious mononucleosis and 41 as a negative control. Then a thin blood film was performed and stained with rapid stain, after that the blood was centrifuged at 1500 RPM for 5 min to obtain plasma the plasma was then transferred to a sterile to eppendorf tube for detection of DNA genome by using PCR (Conventional PCR). Results: The rate of detection of Cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in 9 (10%) of the cases. Females were more susceptible to be infected with CMV in our study 48 (12.50%) than males 42 (11.90%). The rate of detection CMV genome was higher (16.6%) in the age group (11-20 years). The percentage of detection of CMV genome was slightly higher in females compared to males (8.3% versus 11.9%) respectively. CMV detection was higher among patients from Khartoum (12.8%). Using non quantitative PCR assay has facilitated the rapid detection of viruses in individual specimens and also cost-effective and provides a wider differential diagnosis than do serological assays.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus, CMV, herpesviruses, PCR, Infectious mononucleosis.