Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a betaherpesvirus in the same family as human
herpesvirus-6 and-7. CMV is a large virus including approximately 200 proteins. CMV has
been found in a wide range of cells, including endothelial cells, epithelial cells, blood cells
including neutrophils, and smooth muscle cells. 1 The presence of CMV in these cells may
be caused by active replication within the cell, phagocytosis of CMV proteins, or abortive
(incomplete) replication, and likely contributes to dissemination and transmission. As the …