Transplacental transfer of Legionella pneumophila antibodies.
In order to determine the extent to which Legionella pneumophila antibodies are passively transferred transplacentally into the fetal circulation, 199 matched serums of mothers and their newborn infants were tested using the indirect fluorescent polyclonal antibody technique. Considering L. pneumophila antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:64 as evidence of inapparent infection, the overall prevalence rate was 35.7% for the mothers and 14.1% for their newborns. Among the mothers who were seropositive at greater than or equal to 1:64, 36.6% of their matched infants acquired antibodies transplacentally. With only two exceptions there were no newborns with an antibody titer greater than or equal to 1:64 whose mothers did not also evidence at least the same titer.
Silberg
S L
SL
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City 73190.
Lawrence
C H
CH
Guthrie
P J
PJ
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007875:Legionella / Q000276:immunology*; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000635:transmission; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial