Electron Microscopy in the Rapid Diagnosis of Cytomegalovirus: Ultrastructural Observation and Comparison of Methods of Diagnosis

Abstract

The electron microscopic detection of viral particles in urine specimens is a new method for rapid diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The examination of ultrathin sections of virus-infected cells allowed us to follow viral development in vitro and to correlate the observations obtained by light and electron microscope. The ultrastructural appearance of CMV (AD 169 strain) in human fibroblastic cells was a reference for the study of the morphology of CMV in clinical specimens. For evaluation of the electron microscopic method, each sample of urine was cultured, and a study of the exfoliative cytology was made. Most of the viral particles seen in the eight positive samples of urine were surrounded by an envelope. These particles were identified in less than 15 min. by electron microscopy. Electron microscopy permits detection of more positive cases than exfoliative cytology. It is also more rapid, though less sensitive, than tissue culture. The use of the electron microscope to detect CMV in clinical specimens should be continued in view of an eventual antiviral therapy.