Cytomegalovirus shedding from breastmilk and mucosal sites in healthy postpartum women: A pilot study.
Publication Title
Journal of medical virology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-22-2018
Keywords
breastmilk; cytomegalovirus; postpartum
Abstract
Mother-to-child cytomegalovirus (CMV) breastmilk transmission can occur in the postnatal period. In a pilot study, we measured daily CMV detection by polymerase chain reaction in breastmilk, vaginal, and saliva samples from nine healthy CMV-seropositive postpartum women for 28 days. CMV was found in seven of nine women and 171 of 253 breastmilk samples (67.6%). In four women, all breastmilk samples were positive. CMV was less frequently detected in the vagina (39 of 258, 15.1%) and saliva (53 of 258, 20.5%). Daily breastmilk, oral, and genital collection is feasible and demonstrates high variability between women. Further study of the dynamics of CMV in distinct anatomic compartments is warranted.
Area of Special Interest
Women & Children
Specialty/Research Institute
Obstetrics & Gynecology
