Detection of human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) DNA in breast milk by polymerase chain reaction and prevalence of HHV-7 antibody in breast-fed and bottle-fed children

J Med Virol. 1998 Nov;56(3):275-9. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9071(199811)56:3<275::aid-jmv17>3.0.co;2-d.

Abstract

Twenty-nine breast milk mononuclear cell samples were analyzed for human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) DNA, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) DNA, and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from 13 puerperants were analyzed for HHV-7 DNA by PCR, and seropositivity of HHV-7 was also analyzed in breast-fed and bottle-fed children. HHV-7 DNA was detected in 3 of 29 breast milk samples. HCMV DNA was also detected in 3 of 29 breast milk samples, but HHV-6 DNA was not detected. HHV-7 DNA was detected in 11 of 13 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Though the seropositivity rate for HHV-7 in breast-fed children was slightly higher than that in bottle-fed children at 18 and 24 months old, the difference was not statistically significant. From these results, we speculate that breast-feeding may be one of the transmission routes of HHV-7, although this is not the main route.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Bottle Feeding
  • Breast Feeding*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / transmission*
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 7, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Milk, Human / virology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Postpartum Period
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral