Transfer of viral antibodies from mother to infant

Abstract

Antibody titers to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) Type 1, varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and rubella virus (RV) were determined in maternal and in newborn cord sera in 258 consecutive deliveries. Infants born with one or more of the following risk factors--weight less than 2.5 kg, Apgar score less than 7, clinical jaundice, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, birth defects and respiratory distress syndrome--were considered to be at risk. Similar geometric mean titers (GMT) of antibodies to EBV and HSV were seen in cord blood. Anti-VZV maternal antibody levels were significantly higher than those of cord blood (P less than 0.01). Levels of antibody to CMV and RV, the two viruses most implicated in fetal damage were significantly higher in cord blood than in maternal blood (P = 0.02, and P less than 0.001, respectively). Lower GMTs of antibodies to all five viruses were found in both maternal and cord sera of the group of infants at risk, as compared with infants without risk factors, while the ratio of maternal to cord blood antibody levels remained similar. It appears that inefficient production of antibodies correlates with the presence of risk factors in the newborn.