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Vaccines
Volume 13
Issue 9
10.3390/vaccines13090929
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Review

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: From Silent Threat to Vaccine Horizon

by
Rafaela Anna Moutsopoulou
1,†,
Aikaterini Markou
1,†,
Alexandra Lianou
2,
Konstantina Leontari
1,
Zoi Iliodromiti
1,
Theodora Boutsikou
1,
Georgios Kafalidis
1,
Styliani Paliatsiou
1,
Paraskevi Volaki
1,
Nicoletta Iacovidou
1,
Andreas G. Tsantes
3,*,‡ and
Rozeta Sokou
1,*,‡
1
Neonatal Department, Aretaieio Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
2
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, General Hospital of Nikaia “Agios Panteleimon”, 18454 Piraeus, Greece
3
Microbiology Department, “Saint Savvas” Oncology Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
‡
These authors contributed equally to this work (co-senior authors).
Vaccines 2025, 13(9), 929; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090929 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 29 July 2025 / Revised: 27 August 2025 / Accepted: 28 August 2025 / Published: 30 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maternal Vaccination and Vaccines)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the most prevalent congenital infection, affecting approximately 0.5–2% of newborns, and is the leading non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss and neurological impairment. The most severe outcome occurs following primary maternal infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, and up to 40–50% of affected fetuses sustain permanent damage. Diagnosis relies on early prenatal screening through maternal serum testing, optimally performed in the first trimester, followed by confirmatory amniocentesis after 17 weeks’ gestation. Prenatal imaging with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a critical role in the identification of fetal brain abnormalities. Prevention strategies emphasize hygiene measures aimed at reducing maternal exposure to bodily fluids of young children, particularly prior to conception and during early pregnancy. Despite progress in vaccine development, currently available ones demonstrate modest efficacy. This review presents a comprehensive summary of congenital CMV infection, addressing its epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approaches, clinical presentation, and preventive measures, with a focus on recent advances in vaccine research.
Keywords: congenital cytomegalovirus infection; immunology and infectious diseases; neonates; vaccine; congenital infections; prevention strategy congenital cytomegalovirus infection; immunology and infectious diseases; neonates; vaccine; congenital infections; prevention strategy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Moutsopoulou, R.A.; Markou, A.; Lianou, A.; Leontari, K.; Iliodromiti, Z.; Boutsikou, T.; Kafalidis, G.; Paliatsiou, S.; Volaki, P.; Iacovidou, N.; et al. Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: From Silent Threat to Vaccine Horizon. Vaccines 2025, 13, 929. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090929

AMA Style

Moutsopoulou RA, Markou A, Lianou A, Leontari K, Iliodromiti Z, Boutsikou T, Kafalidis G, Paliatsiou S, Volaki P, Iacovidou N, et al. Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: From Silent Threat to Vaccine Horizon. Vaccines. 2025; 13(9):929. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090929

Chicago/Turabian Style

Moutsopoulou, Rafaela Anna, Aikaterini Markou, Alexandra Lianou, Konstantina Leontari, Zoi Iliodromiti, Theodora Boutsikou, Georgios Kafalidis, Styliani Paliatsiou, Paraskevi Volaki, Nicoletta Iacovidou, and et al. 2025. "Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: From Silent Threat to Vaccine Horizon" Vaccines 13, no. 9: 929. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090929

APA Style

Moutsopoulou, R. A., Markou, A., Lianou, A., Leontari, K., Iliodromiti, Z., Boutsikou, T., Kafalidis, G., Paliatsiou, S., Volaki, P., Iacovidou, N., Tsantes, A. G., & Sokou, R. (2025). Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: From Silent Threat to Vaccine Horizon. Vaccines, 13(9), 929. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines13090929

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