Seroprevalence of Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in Cancer Patients Undergo Chemotherapy in Taiz City, Yemen

Ahmed Sultan Abdoh Saeed; Ali Sallam; Hesham Abdulaziz Hezam Ali; Ashwaq Ahmed Abdullah

Seroprevalence of Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in Cancer Patients Undergo Chemotherapy in Taiz City, Yemen

Authors

Ahmed Sultan Abdoh Saeed Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen
Ali Sallam Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen
Hesham Abdulaziz Hezam Ali Al- Amal Oncology Center, Taiz, Yemen
Ashwaq Ahmed Abdullah Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Taiz University, Yemen

Keywords:

Human cytomegalovirus, Cancer, Chemotherapy, Taiz, Yemen

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a ubiquitous beta-herpesvirus, is able to establish lifelong latency after initial infection. CMV is a widespread opportunistic pathogen, which can cause asymptomatic infection in healthy people but life-threatening disease in immunosuppressed individuals. During CMV primary CMV infection or reactivation, many individuals are at a high risk of development severe diseases such as allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, solid organ transplant recipients; cancer patients undergo chemotherapy, patients receiving steroid therapy, HIV patients and, baby of infected mother. Cancer is classified as a second cause of death globally after cardiovascular diseases with 9.6 million deaths were reported worldwide.

This study aimed at determining the overall seroprevalence of CMV among cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy. In addition, it identified the risk factor associated with CMV reactivation and to link the CMV reactivation with types of chemotherapy.

In this study, 200 randomize blood samples were collected from cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who attended to Al Amal center for the treatment of cancer patients in Taiz city. Samples were tested for detection of CMV IgG antibodies by electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method.

The overall seroprevalence of CMV in cancer patients was 99.5%, CMV prevalence was 100% and 99% in solid cancer and, hematological malignancy respectively. Seroprevalence of HCMV regarding gender in male 100% and in female 99%. The prevalence of HCMV was 100% in all age groups except the age group 16-30 years 96%. Seroprevalence of HCMV regarding history of blood transfusion was 56.5%. Seroprevalence of HCMV regarding radiotherapy was 100%. Seroprevalence of HCMV regarding chemotherapy drugs was 99.2%.

CMV reactivation among cancer patients was approved by this study. Therefore, CMV detection assay must include in the list of screening test that recommended for solid cancer and hematological malignancies patients underwent chemotherapy as well as for blood bag given to cancer patients undergo chemotherapy should be taken from seronegative CMV donors.