Detection of cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus in placental tissues of aborted women

Among many viral causes of miscarriage, maternal infections caused by Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections are important causes. The aim of this study was to detect the possible occurrence of Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections in placental tissues from patients with spontaneous abortion using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques. Immunohistochemistry technique and chromogenic in situ hybridization assay was used to detect placental infection with Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in 40 women with spontaneous miscarriage and in 40 healthy delivery n Baghdad/Iraq. An equal detection rates of Epstein-Barr virus in placental tissues by either CISH or IHC were (22.5%), yet the validity results of Epstein-Barr virus-VCA by IHC as compared to Epstein-Barr virus-EBER by CISH have showed a sensitivity and specificity of 44.4% and 83.9%, respectively. The detection rates of Cytomegalovirus-DNA by CISH and Cytomegalovirus-protein by IHC were (30%), (37.5 %), respectively. The results of Cytomegalovirus-DNA-ISH as compared to this Cytomegalovirus-IHC-protein had revealed a sensitivity and specificity of 41.7% and 64.3%, respectively. Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus are important causes of placental infections among miscarriage females in Baghdad, and Cytomegalovirus might be detected in placenta of normal delivery. Although CISH technique considered as the gold standard method for detecting of latent Epstein-Barr virus and /or Cytomegalovirus infection were IHC has showed a compatibility to that technique and might reach rates of high sensitivity and specificity similar to it.