Viral load in breast milk correlates with transmission of human cytomegalovirus to preterm neonates, but lactoferrin concentrations do not.
In vitro, lactoferrin (LF) strongly inhibits human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which led us to hypothesize that in vivo HCMV might also be inhibited in secretions with high LF concentrations. In breast milk, high viral loads observed as high viral DNA titers tended to coincide with higher LF levels. However, the LF levels did not correlate to virus transmission to preterm infants. The viral load in the transmitting group was highest compared to the nontransmitting group. We conclude that viral load in breast milk is an important factor for transmission of the virus.
van der Strate
B W
BW
Department of Pharmacokinetics and Drug Delivery, University Centre for Pharmacy, Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration, 9713 AV Groningen, University Hospital Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. B.W.A.van.der.Strate@farm.rug.nl
Harmsen
M C
MC
Schäfer
P
P
Swart
P J
PJ
The
T H
TH
Jahn
G
G
Speer
C P
CP
Meijer
D K
DK
Hamprecht
K
K
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral; D007781:Lactoferrin