Human Cytomegalovirus: Infections and Diagnosis

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous virus whose sole host is humans. Since HCMV can contagion from person to person through numerous ways, vast populations of humans are infected. HCMV infections can potentially have a range from asymptomatic infection in immuno-competent hosts to life-threatening diseases in organ recipients and patients with AIDS. The present article reviews the occurrence of HCMV infections and diseases in humans with different physiological and immunological status, and evaluates the existing laboratory methods for diagnosis of the disease.