Cytomegalovirus pathophysiology
Template:Cytomegalovirus Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Pathophysiology
Microscopic pathology
Microscopically, CMV can be demonstrated by intranuclear inclusion bodies, which show that the virus replicates in the nucleus rather than the cytosol. These inclusion bodies stain dark pink on an H&E stain, and are also called "Owl's Eye" inclusion bodies.
Lytically replicating virus disrupts the cytoskeleton, causing massive cell enlargement, which is the source of the virus' name.
Transmission
Transmission of CMV occurs from person to person. Seroprevalence is age-dependent: 58.9% of individuals aged 6 and over are infected with CMV while 90.8% of individuals aged 80 and over are positive for CMV.[1] Infection requires close, intimate contact with a person excreting the virus in their saliva, urine, blood, tears, and semen. The shedding of virus may take place intermittently, without any detectable signs, and without causing symptoms. CMV can be sexually transmitted and can also be transmitted via breast milk, transplanted organs, and rarely from blood transfusions.
Although CMV is not highly contagious, it has been shown to spread in households and among young children in day care centers.[2]
Species
| Name | Abv. | Host |
|---|---|---|
| Cercopithecine herpesvirus 5 | (CeHV-5) | African green monkey |
| Cercopithecine herpesvirus 8 | (CeHV-8) | Rhesus monkey |
| Human herpesvirus 5 | (HHV-5) | Humans |
| Pongine herpesvirus 4 | (PoHV-4) | ? |
| Aotine herpesvirus 1 | (AoHV-1) | (Tentative species) |
| Aotine herpesvirus 3 | (AoHV-3) | (Tentative species) |