Human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 and HHV-7 infections in pregnant women.
BACKGROUND
Both intrauterine and sexual transmission of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 and HHV-7 have been suggested, and congenital HHV-6 infection does occur. We prospectively studied HHV-6 and HHV-7 at multiple sites in pregnant women to determine the characteristics of these viruses at repeated time points.


METHODS
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cervical secretions, placenta, and cord blood were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse-transcriptase PCR for HHV-6 and HHV-7 and by quantitative PCR for HHV-6. A control group of women was also studied.


RESULTS
We enrolled 104 pregnant and 31 control women. HHV-7 DNA was detected more frequently in PBMCs from pregnant women (66.9%) than HHV-6 DNA (22.2%; P<.0001), but both were found at low rates in cervical swabs (HHV-7 vs. HHV-6 DNA, 3.0% vs. 7.5%; P=.19). Pregnant women with HHV-6 DNA present in cervical swabs had a greater odds of having HHV-6 DNA present in the blood than did pregnant women with negative cervical swabs (odds ratio, 12.9; P=.0009). HHV-6 reactivation or reinfection was suggested in 17% of pregnant women. One placental sample had active HHV-6 replication.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of HHV-6 DNA in cervical secretions is associated with HHV-6 DNA in PBMC samples. Active placental infection along with congenital HHV-6 infection was identified.
Caserta
Mary T
MT
Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. mary_caserta@urmc.rochester.edu
Hall
Caroline Breese
CB
Schnabel
Ken
K
Lofthus
Geraldine
G
McDermott
Michael P
MP
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016199:Herpesvirus 7, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D010920:Placenta / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral