HHV-6 is frequently detected in dried cord blood spots from babies born to HIV-positive mothers.
Intrauterine transmission of HHV-6 is well established in immunocompetent women while few data are available on infections in babies born to HIV-positive mothers. To assess the rate of HHV-6 vertical transmission in comparison to CMV, we analyzed cord blood spots dried on cards (Dried Blood Spots, DBS) collected during a multi-center study on HIV congenital infections in Italy. DBS were tested by PCR for HHV-6 and CMV footprints. HHV-6 amplimers were sequenced and characterized. As control group, cards taken from babies born to HIV-negative mothers were analyzed. DBS of 187 babies born to HIV-positive and 372 to HIV-negative mothers were analyzed. The prevalence of HHV-6 was 3.2% in babies born to HIV-positive mothers. CMV was found in the HIV-positive group with a prevalence rate of 1.6%. In newborns of control pregnant women, HHV-6 prevalence rate was 1.1% (p=0.09), while CMV was not detected (p=0.04). Sequence analysis could distinguish between HHV-6 A and B variant in both groups and one A/B coinfection was found in a baby born to a HIV-positive mother. HIV-infected mothers transmit HHV-6 and CMV viruses to their babies more frequently than uninfected women.
Department of Public Medicine Sciences, UCO Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
Pierlanfranco
P
D'Agaro
Paola
P
Burgnich
Manola
M
Comar
Gianna
G
Dal Molin
Maria
M
Bernardon
Marina
M
Busetti
Salvatore
S
Alberico
Albino
A
Poli
Cesare
C
Campello
D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology*; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods
D004279:DNA, Viral