title: High risk human papillomavirus and Epstein Barr virus in human breast milk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and mouse mammary tumour virus have been identified in human milk. High risk human papillomavirus (HPV) sequences have been identified in breast cancer. The aim of this study is to determine if viral sequences are present in human milk from normal lactating women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Standard (liquid) and in situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques were used to identify HPV and EBV in human milk samples from normal lactating Australian women who had no history of breast cancer.High risk human papillomavirus was identified in milk samples of 6 of 40 (15%) from normal lactating women - sequencing on four samples showed three were HPV 16 and one was HPV 18. Epstein Barr virus was identified in fourteen samples (33%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of high risk HPV and EBV in human milk suggests the possibility of milk transmission of these viruses. However, given the rarity of viral associated malignancies in young people, it is possible but unlikely, that such transmission is associated with breast or other cancers.
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.forename: Noel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Whitaker
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lawson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000235:genetics*; D052161:Human papillomavirus 18 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral