HTLV-I proviral DNA in umbilical cord blood of babies born to carrier mothers.
Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in cord blood raises the possibility of intrauterine transmission as an alternative pathway to transmission via breast milk. However, none of 7 children with HTLV-I proviral DNA positive cord blood had seroconverted by 24-48 months. Contamination of cord blood by maternal blood was precluded on the basis of viral load and IgA concentration. Thus cord blood proviral DNA is not a hallmark of intrauterine infection. Moreover, none of the cord blood samples of 9 formula-fed children later confirmed to be infected was positive for HTLV-I, indicating that intrauterine infection is not a likely candidate as an alternative pathway.
Katamine
S
S
Department of Bacteriology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan.
Moriuchi
R
R
Yamamoto
T
T
Terada
K
K
Eguchi
K
K
Tsuji
Y
Y
Yamabe
T
T
Miyamoto
T
T
Hino
S
S
D001942:Breast Feeding; D002353:Carrier State; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011533:Proviruses
D004279:DNA, Viral