Cytomegalovirus Infection in Children in Japan

An attempt to isolate cytomegalovirus (CMV) from specimens obtained from children with various diseases was carried out from June, 1966 thru August, 1967. Forty-five strains of CMV were isolated from 21 cases of 135 children examined. Success in isolation was most frequently observed in children ranging in age from 5 months to 4 years. Serological investigations revealed a rate of incidence of complement-fixing antibodies against CMV was over 90% in the newborn, decreased to 60% in infancy, and gradually increased after 10 years of age. The highest rate of primary infection incidence was in early infancy and it was noted that lower age infants showed a marked tendency to become persistent virus excreters.