SEROPREVALENCE AND RESEARCH GAPS IN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS STUDIES IN YEMEN: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Saad Al-Arnoot; Qais Y. M. Abdullah; Assem  Al-Thobhani; Mohammed N. Q.  AlBana; Basem Al-Akhali; Saeed M. S. Al-Ghalebi; Salwa H. Alkhyat; Amin Abdo AlAsbahi

doi:10.47372/ejua-ba.2025.1.426

Authors

Saad Al-Arnoot Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
Qais Y. M. Abdullah Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
Assem Al-Thobhani Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
Mohammed N. Q. AlBana Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
Basem Al-Akhali Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
Saeed M. S. Al-Ghalebi Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
Salwa H. Alkhyat Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
Amin Abdo AlAsbahi Dept. of Medical Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Amran University, Amran, Yemen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47372/ejua-ba.2025.1.426

Keywords:

Cytomegalovirus, Seroprevalence, Diagnostic techniques, Awareness, Yemen

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus is a prevalent virus that poses significant public health challenges, especially in developing countries like Yemen. Despite its widespread occurrence, there is a substantial gap in understanding the true epidemiological burden due to diagnostic limitations and low awareness among healthcare professionals and the general public. This comprehensive review aimed to assess Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence across different regions and population groups in Yemen, critically analyze the diagnostic techniques used, and evaluate awareness levels among key stakeholders. The findings indicated consistently high seroprevalence rates, reaching up to 100% among pregnant women and 99.5% among cancer patients. However, the heavy reliance on serological methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, without the use of molecular techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction, significantly hampers the accurate detection of active infections. Moreover, awareness among healthcare workers and the general population remains critically low, exacerbating the transmission risks. This review identifies critical research gaps, including a lack of molecular epidemiological studies and comprehensive awareness campaigns. Addressing these gaps requires an integrated approach that combines advanced diagnostic methods, enhanced healthcare training, and public education initiatives to mitigate Cytomegalovirus transmission and reduce its impact on health.