Occupational risk for cytomegalovirus, but not for parvovirus B19 in child-care personnel in France.

Background: Studies assessing the risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV), parvovirus B19 (B19V), rubella and varicella infections in female child-care personnel may help define appropriate preventive strategies during pregnancy.

Methods: Serologic testing for all four viruses and a self-administered questionnaire to identify risk factors were conducted on child-care staff aged 20-50 years old and on a reference group of women.

Results: In 395 exposed and 382 reference women, CMV, B19V, rubella and varicella seroprevalence were 69.

A simplified cytomegalovirus pp65 antigenemia assay procedure.

A simplified cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigenemia assay using a one-step erythrocyte lysis, fixation and permeabilization process was compared with a standard protocol, the CMV CINAkit (Argene Biosoft) assay. The results were comparable, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The new method saves time.

Are waterborne astrovirus implicated in acute digestive morbidity (E.MI.R.A. study)?

Background: With rotavirus and Norwalk-like viruses, astroviruses are now recognized as important etiologic agents of viral gastroenteritis in all age groups. However, astrovirus is neither routinely screened for in stool samples, nor in environmental samples, and data on the health impact of waterborne astrovirus are lacking.

Objectives: To assess the potential impact of astrovirus in drinking water on the incidence of acute digestive conditions (ADC) among a panel of volunteers.

A new analytical tool to assess health risks associated with the virological quality of drinking water (EMIRA study).

This work assessed the risks associated with the virological quality of tapwater using a molecular analytical tool manageable in a field survey. It combined a daily epidemiological follow-up of digestive morbidity among a panel of volunteers and a microbiological surveillance of drinking water. RT-PCR was used for detection of enterovirus, rotavirus and astrovirus.

Detection of human and animal rotavirus sequences in drinking water.

Reverse transcription-PCR analysis of drinking water in the homes of 56 children suffering from rotaviral gastroenteritis has shown the presence of the rotavirus genome in four samples. These strains were different from human rotaviruses detected in the children's feces, as determined by sequencing of the VP7-amplified fragments-three of them of animal origin (porcine or bovine) and one of human origin.

Monitoring rotavirus environmental contamination in a pediatric unit using polymerase chain reaction.

Rotavirus environmental contamination in a pediatric unit was investigated. Surfaces were swabbed, then viruses eluted, ultracentrifuged, and detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Of 55 samples, 25 (46%) tested positive.

[Virus resistance in a hospital environment: overview of the virucide activity of disinfectants used in liquid form].

Human pathogenic viruses can be detected in the hospital environment, on contaminated surfaces or medical instruments. Their transmission to patients or staff has already been reported. Lipophilic viruses (HIV, HBV, HCV,.

[Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant women. Seroepidemiological prospective study in 1,018 women in Isere].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of viral congenital infections. In children, the consequences may be severe, especially in case of maternal primary infection during pregnancy. A prospective study was carried out in the department of Isère, in 1,018 pregnant women, in order to establish the seroprevalence of CMV, the frequency of primary infections during pregnancy and the associated risk factors.

Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in French pregnant women: parity and place of birth as major predictive factors.

In this study we present data on cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence in pregnant women in France. One thousand and eighteen women were enrolled in a prospective study carried out in Grenoble. The overall rate of seropositivity, using a specific IgG ELISA test, was 51.

Multicenter evaluating of a commercially available PCR assay for diagnosing enterovirus infection in a panel of cerebrospinal fluid specimens.

Thirteen laboratories participated in blind tests of a panel of 20 coded cerebrospinal fluid specimens (7 uninfected samples, 3 samples infected with 1 50% tissue culture infective dose [TCID50]/0.1 ml [nonenterovirus strains], and 10 samples infected with 10, 1, or 0.1 TCID50/0.