[Prevalence of cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and HIV-1 antibodies in healthy blood donors, hospital patients, kidney transplant recipients, i.v. drug addicts and homosexuals].

Between 1987 and 1988 592 serum samples were analyzed in order to determine the prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis-B and HIV-1 antibodies among healthy blood donors and different risk groups in the region of Zurich, Switzerland. Samples from 100 healthy blood donors, 100 hospital patients, 100 renal transplant recipients, 142 iv drug addicts and 150 homosexuals were analyzed. Among 111 (74%) of the 150 homosexuals studied, antibodies against CMV were identified. On the other hand, only a third of the remaining probands proved to be anti-CMV positive (26-37%). All the groups aged between 20 and 39 years showed an increase in anti-CMV frequency with advancing age. Among the 47 homosexuals aged between 20 and 29 years, 30 (64%) were already anti-CMV positive. The relevance of CMV as a sexually transmissible disease is discussed.