Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Viral antibodies in maternal and cord sera

  • Published:
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Viral antibodies were determined in paired maternal and cord blood sera of 258 consecutive deliveries. Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1), adenovirus (ADV), and varicella zoster (VZV) were tested by indirect immunofluorescence and to rubella (RUB) by hemagglutination inhibition. Analysis of the overall pattern of differences between maternal and cord blood showed a highly significant difference for all six viruses. Analysis regarding individual viruses showed significantly higher titers to CMV and RUB in cord blood, a higher titer to VZV in maternal blood, and similar levels of antibodies to EBV, HSV-1, and ADV in maternal and cord blood. Infants with one or more risk indicators (weight < 3 kg, Apgar score ⩽ 7, clinical jaundice, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, respiratory distress syndrome) were defined as “at risk.” Infants free of such indicators were defined as “normal.” Significantly lower antibody levels to all six viruses were found in both maternal and cord blood of the “at risk” as compared to the “normal” group, while the ratios between the maternal and cord blood levels remained similar. Birth defects were found to have no effect on antibody titers. These results indicate an efficient and selective transfer through the placenta of certain viral antibodies and the possible association of lower antibody production with the presence of risk indicators in the infants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Brouwer R, de Groot IGM, Verheij FBM (1974) Comparison of maternal and cord serum titers for measles and for rubella antibodies. Arch Gesamte Virusforsch 44:237–242

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brown ZA, Stenchever MA (1978) Infectious mononucleosis and congenital anomalies. CV Mosby Co, Communications in Brief 131:108–109

    Google Scholar 

  3. Catty D, Seger R, Drew R, Stroder J, Metze H (1977) IgG-subclass concentrations in cord sera from premature, full term and small-for-dates babies. Eur J Pediatr 125:89–96

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Fuccillo DA, Sever JL (1973) Viral teratology. Bact Rev 37:19–31

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Gelfand HM, Fox JP, LeBlanc DR, Elveback L (1960) Studies on the development of natural immunity to poliomyelitis in Louisiana. V. Passive transfer of polio antibody from mother to fetus and natural decline and disappearance of antibody in the infant. J Immunol 85:692–696

    Google Scholar 

  6. Gershon AA, Raker R, Steinberg S, Topf-Olstein B, Drusin LM (1976) Antibody to varicella-zoster virus on parturient women and their offspring during the first year of life. Pediatrics 58:692–696

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gotlieb-Stematsky T, Vonsover A, Ramot B, Zaizov R, Nordan U, Aghai E, Kende G, Modan M (1975) Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus in patients with Hodgkin's disease and leukemia. Cancer 36:1640–1645

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ishiguro T, Ozaki Y (1979) Neutralization antibodies against herpes simplex virus in maternal and umbilical cord serum. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 58:413–414

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Joncas J, Boucher J, Granger-Julien M, Filion C (1974) Epstein-Barr virus infection in the neonatal period and in childhood. Can Med Assoc J 110:33–37

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kibrick S, Loria RM (1974) Rubella and cytomegalovirus, current concepts of congenital and acquired infection. Pediatr Clin North Am 21:513–526

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Kohler PF, Farr RS (1966) Elevation of cord over maternal IgG immunoglobulin: evidence for an active placenta IgG transport. Nature 210:1070

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Leventon-Kriss S, Gotlieb-Stematsky T, Vonsover A, Smetana Z (1979) Infection and persistence of varicella-zoster virus in lymphoblastoid Raji cell line. Med Microbiol Immunol 167:275–283

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Miyoshi I, Hasegawa H, Tsubota T, Hiraki K (1972) Simultaneous determination of antibody to Epstein-Barr virus in prenatal mothers and new-born. Experientia 28:195–196

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ozaki T, Nagai H, Kimura T, Ichikawa T, Suzuki S, Kito H, Asano Y (1980) The age distribution of neutralizing antibodies against varicella-zoster virus in healthy individuals. Biken J 23:9–14

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Raker RK, Steinberg S, Drusin LM, Gershon A (1978) Antibody to varicella-zoster virus in low-birthweight newborn infants. J Pediatr 93:505–506

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Sato H, Albrecht P, Reynolds DW, Stagno S, Ennis FA (1979) Transfer of measles, mumps and rubella antibodies from mother to infant. Am J Dis Child 133:1240–1243

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Shapiro LR, Hirshaut Y, Kanef DM, Glade P (1972) Epstein-Barr virus in infancy. J Pediat 80:1025–1026

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Smith RN, Hanna L (1974) Herpesvirus infections in pregnancy: comparison of neutralizing antibody titers in mothers and their infants. Am J Obstet Gynecol 119:314–317

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Toivanen P, Manyjarvi R, Hirvonen T (1968) Maternal antibodies in human foetal sera at different stages of gestation. Immunology 15:395–403

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Waterson AP (1979) Virus infections (other than rubella) during pregnancy. Br Med J 2:564–566

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Virology Laboratory of the Ch. Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv

    T. Gotlieb-Stematsky, I. Meron, Y. Sayar, S. Leventon-Kriss & A. Fogel

  2. Department of Clinical Epidemiology of the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv

    M. Modan & R. Gurewitz

  3. Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka Medical Center and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Be'er Sheba, Israel

    V. Insler

Authors
  1. T. Gotlieb-Stematsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. Meron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Modan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Y. Sayar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. S. Leventon-Kriss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. Fogel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. R. Gurewitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. V. Insler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gotlieb-Stematsky, T., Meron, I., Modan, M. et al. Viral antibodies in maternal and cord sera. Med Microbiol Immunol 172, 67–74 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02123679

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02123679

Keywords

Search

Navigation