Detection of varicella-zoster virus DNA in maternal breast milk from a mother with herpes zoster.
BACKGROUND
We previously reported that varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from maternal breast milk of a post-partum mother with chickenpox.


OBJECTIVE
We tried to decide the route of VZV contamination to maternal milk.


METHODS
A 22-year-old woman developed herpes zoster on her right Th3-4 dermatome.


CONCLUSIONS
VZV DNA was detected by PCR from peripheral blood and the maternal milk of the right breast, but not from the maternal milk of the left breast. These results suggest that VZV in maternal milk may not derive from VZV-infected mononuclear cells in peripheral blood, but from the VZV-infected epitheliums of the lacteal gland.
Yoshida
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Ohnohigashi 377-2, Osakasayama, Osaka 589, Japan.
Tezuka
T
T
Hiruma
M
M