Study on mother-to-child transmission route of transfusion transmitted virus infection / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the prevalence of TT virus infection in pregnant women in Shenzhen and the role of mother-to -child transmission route in the TTV infection. Methods TTV DNA were detected by nested PCR in sera, cord blood and breast milk samples from 400 mother-infant pairs. TTV DNA positive mothers were followed up for 6 months for monitoring TTV DNA. Thirty two TTV DNA PCR products amplified from blood and milk samples of 13 mother-infant fairs were cloned and sequenced. Results By means of PCR, TTV DNA were detected in 62 of mothers' serum samples, 4 of 400 cord blood samples, and 20 of 400 milk samples, respectively. Therefore, 6.5%(4/62) of infants are likely to be infected with TTV from their mothers during the fetal period. Direct sequencing of TTV DNA from 13 mother-child pairs showed identical isolates (nucleotide homology from 97.5% to 99%), Follow-up sera of 42children, whose mothers were TTV DNA positive, showed 16 cases turned out to be existence of TTV viremia at 6 months old. Conclusions Our data proved the mother-to-child transmission route of TTV infection.TTV can be transmitted transplacentally and postnatally by the way of breast feeding as well. The increase of TTV prevalence during the 6 months after birth, suggests the postnatal transmission route of TTV may be of more importance, and further study is needed to address whether preventive measure should be done.