HTLV-I PROVIRAL DNA IN UMBILICAL-CORD BLOOD OF BABIES BORN TO CARRIERMOTHERS

Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) in cord blood raises the po ssibility of intrauterine transmission as an alternative pathway to tr ansmission via breast milk. However, none of 7 children with HTLV-I pr oviral DNA positive cord blood had seroconverted by 24-48 months. Cont amination of cord blood by maternal blood was precluded on the basis o f viral load and IgA concentration. Thus cord blood proviral DNA is no t a hallmark of intrauterine infection. Moreover, none of the cord blo od samples of 9 formula-fed children later confirmed to be infected wa s positive for HTLV-I, indicating that intrauterine infection is not a likely candidate as an alternative pathway.