BACKGROUND: Both intrauterine and sexual transmission of human herpesvirus (HHV)-6 and HHV-7 have been suggested, and congenital HHV-6 infection does occur. We prospectively studied HHV-6 and HHV-7 at multiple sites in pregnant women to determine the characteristics of these viruses at repeated time points. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cervical secretions, placenta, and cord blood were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse-transcriptase PCR for HHV-6 and HHV-7 and by quantitative PCR for HHV-6. A control group of women was also studied. RESULTS: We enrolled 104 pregnant and 31 control women. HHV-7 DNA was detected more frequently in PBMCs from pregnant women (66.9%) than HHV-6 DNA (22.2%; P<.0001), but both were found at low rates in cervical swabs (HHV-7 vs. HHV-6 DNA, 3.0% vs. 7.5%; P=.19). Pregnant women with HHV-6 DNA present in cervical swabs had a greater odds of having HHV-6 DNA present in the blood than did pregnant women with negative cervical swabs (odds ratio, 12.9; P=.0009). HHV-6 reactivation or reinfection was suggested in 17% of pregnant women. One placental sample had active HHV-6 replication. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of HHV-6 DNA in cervical secretions is associated with HHV-6 DNA in PBMC samples. Active placental infection along with congenital HHV-6 infection was identified.
BACKGROUND: Both intrauterine and sexual transmission of humanherpesvirus (HHV)-6 and HHV-7 have been suggested, and congenital HHV-6 infection does occur. We prospectively studied HHV-6 and HHV-7 at multiple sites in pregnant women to determine the characteristics of these viruses at repeated time points. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cervical secretions, placenta, and cord blood were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse-transcriptase PCR for HHV-6 and HHV-7 and by quantitative PCR for HHV-6. A control group of women was also studied. RESULTS: We enrolled 104 pregnant and 31 control women. HHV-7 DNA was detected more frequently in PBMCs from pregnant women (66.9%) than HHV-6 DNA (22.2%; P<.0001), but both were found at low rates in cervical swabs (HHV-7 vs. HHV-6 DNA, 3.0% vs. 7.5%; P=.19). Pregnant women with HHV-6 DNA present in cervical swabs had a greater odds of having HHV-6 DNA present in the blood than did pregnant women with negative cervical swabs (odds ratio, 12.9; P=.0009). HHV-6 reactivation or reinfection was suggested in 17% of pregnant women. One placental sample had active HHV-6 replication. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of HHV-6 DNA in cervical secretions is associated with HHV-6 DNA in PBMC samples. Active placental infection along with congenital HHV-6 infection was identified.
Authors: Mary T Caserta; Caroline B Hall; Richard L Canfield; Philip Davidson; Gerry Lofthus; Kenneth Schnabel; Jennifer Carnahan; Lynne Shelley; Hongyue Wang Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2014-11-03 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Mary T Caserta; Caroline Breese Hall; Kenneth Schnabel; Geraldine Lofthus; Andrea Marino; Lynne Shelley; Christina Yoo; Jennifer Carnahan; Linda Anderson; Hongyue Wang Journal: J Clin Virol Date: 2010-03-07 Impact factor: 3.168
Authors: Caroline Breese Hall; Mary T Caserta; Kenneth C Schnabel; Lynne M Shelley; Jennifer A Carnahan; Andrea S Marino; Christina Yoo; Geraldine K Lofthus Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2010-02-15 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Shara N Pantry; Maria M Medveczky; Jesse H Arbuckle; Janos Luka; Jose G Montoya; Jianhong Hu; Rolf Renne; Daniel Peterson; Joshua C Pritchett; Dharam V Ablashi; Peter G Medveczky Journal: J Med Virol Date: 2013-07-25 Impact factor: 2.327
Authors: Mary T Caserta; Thomas G O'Connor; Peter A Wyman; Hongyue Wang; Jan Moynihan; Wendi Cross; Xin Tu; Xia Jin Journal: Brain Behav Immun Date: 2008-03-04 Impact factor: 7.217