Objective Cytomegalovirus (CMV) virulence may depend on genetic variability in several regions of the genome. This study aimed to assess specific CMV genotypes' association with the severity of symptomatic congenital CMV disease at birth.

Methods CMV glycoprotein B (gB), glycoprotein N (gN), glycoprotein H (gH), and UL144 strains were identified by nested polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and heteroduplex mobility assay single-stranded conformation polymorphism in 50 infants infected congenitally and 25 asymptomatic infants.

Results gN1 (p = 0.010) and UL144-B (p = 0.034) genotypes were associated, by logistic regression, with reduced risk of developing symptomatic congenital CMV infection. gN1 (p = 0.020) and gN3 (p = 0.022) genotypes were associated with reduced risk of severe symptomatic disease. Conversely, gB1 (p = 0.018) was the most virulent genotype and was associated with severe symptoms.

Conclusion An association among gB1, gN1, gN3, and UL144-B genotypes of CMV and severity of congenital CMV disease might exist. gB, gN, and UL144 genotypes could be important virological markers of infant infection.

目的 巨细胞病毒 (CMV) 的毒力可能取决于基因组几个区域的遗传变异。本研究旨在评估特定 CMV 基因型与出生时有症状的先天性 CMV 疾病严重程度的关联。

方法 采用巢式聚合酶链反应、限制性片段长度多态性和异源双链迁移率测定单链构象多态性检测50例先天性感染婴儿CMV糖蛋白B（gB）、糖蛋白N（gN）、糖蛋白H（gH）和UL144株和25名无症状婴儿。

结果 gN1 ( p  = 0.010) 和 UL144-B ( p  = 0.034) 基因型通过逻辑回归与发生有症状的先天性 CMV 感染的风险降低相关。gN1 ( p  = 0.020) 和 gN3 ( p  = 0.022) 基因型与严重症状性疾病的风险降低有关。相反，gB1 ( p  = 0.018) 是毒性最强的基因型，并且与严重的症状相关。

结论 CMV的gB1、gN1、gN3和UL144-B基因型与先天性CMV疾病的严重程度之间可能存在相关性。gB、gN 和 UL144 基因型可能是婴儿感染的重要病毒学标志物。