title: Transmission of Zika virus through breast milk and other breastfeeding-related bodily-fluids: A systematic review.
abstract: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is an emerging mosquito-borne disease, which is associated with an increase in central nervous system malformations and newborn microcephaly cases. This review investigated evidence of breastfeeding transmission from ZIKV-infected mothers to their children and the presence of ZIKV infection in breastfeeding-related fluids.
  
  
  
  We conducted a systematic review of observational studies, case studies, and surveillance reports involving breastfeeding women with ZIKV infection in several international databases. Data extraction and analysis were conducted following a PROSPERO-registered protocol. From 472 non-duplicate records, two case reports met criteria for inclusion. We reviewed three cases of ZIKV infection among lactating mothers near the time of delivery. Two of the three (2/3) associated newborns had evidence of ZIKV infection. ZIKV was detected in breast milk of all three mothers. Breast milk detection results were positive in all mothers (3/3) by RT-PCR, one was positive by culture (1/3), and none was tested for ZIKV-specific antibodies. Serum samples were ZIKV positive in all mothers (3/3), and sweat was not tested for ZIKV.
  
  
  
  We describe three cases of ZIKV-infected breastfeeding mothers who were symptomatic within three days of delivery, and two cases with ZIKV-infected newborns. While ZIKV was detected in the breast milk of all three mothers, the data are not sufficient to conclude ZIKV transmission via breastfeeding. More evidence is needed to distinguish breastfeeding transmission from other perinatal transmission routes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Susannah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colt
authors.affiliation: Evidence and Programme Guidance, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Garcia-Casal
authors.affiliation: Evidence and Programme Guidance, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Peña-Rosas
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.affiliation: Evidence and Programme Guidance, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pura
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rayco-Solon
authors.affiliation: Evidence and Programme Guidance, Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Zita C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Weise Prinzo
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Saurabh
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3788-0665
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000821:virology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000821:virology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000071244:Zika Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000635:transmission*