cytomegalovirus

American  

[sahy-toh-meg-uh-loh-vahy-ruhs] / ˌsaɪ toʊˌmɛg ə loʊˈvaɪ rəs /

noun

plural

cytomegaloviruses

1. a common virus of the herpesvirus family, usually harmless or causing mild colds but capable of producing severe systemic damage in infected newborns and immunosuppressed persons. CMV

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cytomegalovirus British  

/ ˌsaɪtəʊˈmɛɡələʊˌvaɪrəs /

noun

1.  CMV.  a virus of the herpes virus family that may cause serious disease in patients whose immune systems are compromised

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cytomegalovirus Scientific  

/ sī′tə-mĕg′ə-lō-vī′rəs /

1. Any of a group of herpes viruses of the genus Cytomegalovirus that cause enlargement and abnormal structures in the cell nucleus (known as nuclear inclusions) in infected cells. Although the virus usually causes minor or no symptoms in normal adults, it is a common cause of opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients and can cause life-threatening congenital infections.

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Etymology

Origin of cytomegalovirus

1960–65; cytomegal(ia) ( see cytomegalic) + -o- + virus

Example Sentences

Moderna fell 3.9% after saying it would stop development of a vaccine designed to prevent birth defects caused by cytomegalovirus, or CMV, once among its most-watched experimental programs.

From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025

Fluffy white clouds and red hemorrhages, the work of cytomegalovirus, bloomed across patients’ retinas until they went blind.

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2025

Blood that is destined for new babies, immunocompromised patients, pregnant women or to be transfused into a foetus in-uterine must be screened for a virus called cytomegalovirus or CMV.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2024

In a human clinical study involving 68 patients, the team explored around 700 T cells that specifically interacted with antigens from either SARS-CoV-2, influenza, or cytomegalovirus.

From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2023

Pigs can carry viruses such as porcine cytomegalovirus, the one that was detected in Bennett, the person who received a pig heart transplant in 2022.

From Scientific American • Oct. 19, 2023