HTLV-I proviral DNA in umbilical cord blood of babies born to carrier mothers.

Katamine, S; Moriuchi, R; Yamamoto, T; Terada, K; Eguchi, K; Tsuji, Y; Yamabe, T; Miyamoto, T et al. · Lancet · 1994

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in cord blood raises the possibility of intrauterine transmission as an alternative pathway to transmission via breast milk. However, none of 7 children with HTLV-I proviral DNA positive cord blood had seroconverted by 24-48 months. Contamination of cord blood by maternal blood was precluded on the basis of viral load and IgA concentration. Thus cord blood proviral DNA is not a hallmark of intrauterine infection. Moreover, none of the cord blood samples of 9 formula-fed children later confirmed to be infected was positive for HTLV-I, indicating that intrauterine infection is not a likely candidate as an alternative pathway.

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