A patient has undergone a renal transplantation 2 months back and now presented with difficulty in breathing. X-ray showed bilateral diffuse interstitial pneumonia. The probable etiologic agent would be :

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the largest virus in the herpes family.  It is transmitted transplacentally from a latent mother to foetus.  Postnatal infections are usually acquired by means of sexual intercourse, blood transmission and organ transplantation , clinical disease resembles infectious mononucleosis .  It may cause hepatitis and pneumonitis.  For treatment Ganciclovir is the drug of choice. Ref : textbook of microbiology, C P Baveja, 5th edition , Pg no:446