Pathogenesis of Non-Zika Congenital Viral Infections

A widespread epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection was reported in 2015 from South and Central America and the Caribbean. Although the full spectrum of ZIKV infection of the newborn has yet to be determined, other maternal viral infections resulting in transmission to the fetus provide instructive lessons that can be applied to the prospective evaluation of individuals with ZIKV infection. This review focuses on those other congenital infections, including rubella, congenital cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and neonatal herpes simplex virus, from which lessons for the evaluation of ZIKV in the newborn can be applied.

Analysis of HLA DQ alpha allele and genotype frequencies in populations from Florida

HLA DQ alpha allele and genotype frequencies for Caucasian, African American, Haitian, and Hispanic populations in Florida have been estimated. The Florida laboratories involved in these studies collected donor samples from a variety of sites including clinical laboratories, victim and suspect standards, blood banks, county jail detainees, and laboratory personnel. We have determined that the Caucasian and African American DQ alpha genotype frequencies do not deviate significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations and as a result of this heterogeneity analyses, data from the four Florida Caucasian populations may be combined and data from the four Florida African American populations may be combined to form two large HLA DQ alpha genotype frequency databanks. Further, data from the Florida Haitian population may be combined with the Florida African American population. Comparison of the combined Florida Caucasian populations, combined Florida African American populations, the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office (PBSO) Hispanic, and PBSO Haitian population with other databases does not support combination because allele frequency distributions are heterogeneous.

Increased frequency of cytomegalovirus infection in children in group day care

The prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in 103 children attending a single day care center was compared with that of 62 children kept at home. Demographic features of the day care group were similar to those of the home care group; in both groups, most of the children were white, were from middle-income families with two or fewer children, and had parents with 15 or more years of education. Ten of 57 (18%) children in home care had serum antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and 2/25 (8%) had viruria. In contrast, 59/103 (57%) of children from the day care center were shedding CMV in urine or saliva. Although less than 10% of infants aged less than 1 year were excreting CMV, 78% of infants studied between 12 and 18 months of age had CMV isolated from a saliva or urine specimen. Group day care appears likely to result in early acquisition of CMV. Excretion of CMV by children in day care centers could result in transmission of the virus to susceptible day care workers or mothers, with the potential risk of fetal infection.