Clinicoepidemiologic status of mother-to-child infections: a nationwide survey in Japan.

We conducted a nationwide survey of the present status of 10 representative mother-to-child infections in Japan. Congenital syphilis, vertical human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 infection, congenital rubella and vertical HIV infection, for which effective preventative strategies have been established, were rare. Cytomegalovirus was the most common congenital pathogen in Japan, although most infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infection may remain undiagnosed.