Occurrence of Genital Herpes Simplex and Cytomegalovirus Infections in Pregnancy

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Abstract
A total of 244 pregnant women, 172 in the 1st and 72 in the 3rd trimester, were screened for genital herpes simplex (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections using virus isolation, cytological examination and serological studies. Immunofluorescence staining of exfoliated cervical cells was used for the detection of HSV infections. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) could not be isolated and no characteristic HSV altered cells were found in cytological (PAP) smears. Cytomegalovirus was isolated 4 times, but PAP smears obtained from these patients were normal. In 34 (14%) patients, HSV antiserum detected immunofluorescence positive exfoliated cervical cells. Overall, 14% of patients had HSV-2 antibodies and 71% CMV antibodies. No differences between the 1st or 3rd trimesters in these respects were noted.