ABSTRACT
In the earliest report, cytomegalovirus (CMV) was identified as histopathological findings of the cells that contained the “owl eye”-like structure in the tissues from a variety of infected mammals. Seroepidemiological studies indicate that prevalence of human CMV (HCMV) infection is usually high in general populations and generally increased with age. Fetal CMV infection is clinically suspected if cerebral fetal sonography demonstrates ventriculomegaly, intracranial calcifications, or microcephaly. In immunocompromised hosts, both primary and recurrent infections may result in CMV diseases. The rhesus macaque/rhesus CMV model is the most suited for analysis of HCMV pathogenesis, because the non-human primates and humans share strong developmental, immunological, anatomical, and biochemical similarities. Finally, strategies for education and advocacies to prevent CMV diseases should be considered, since most of the general population lack the understanding of CMV infection and diseases. Furthermore, passive immunization of immune serum reduces murine CMV (MCMV)-induced brain pathology in newborn mice.
