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Breast Milk and Saliva Lactoferrin Levels and Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Weimer, KED; Roark, H; Fisher, K; Cotten, CM; Kaufman, DA; Bidegain, M; Permar, SR
Published in: Am J Perinatol
August 2021

OBJECTIVE: Very low birth weight preterm infants are at risk for life-threatening infections in the NICU. Breast milk protects against infections but carries the risk of infection by cytomegalovirus (CMV) shed in mother's milk. Lactoferrin is a breast milk and saliva protein with potent neutralizing activity against CMV. STUDY DESIGN: VLBW, maternal breast milk fed infants in the NICU and their lactating mothers were enrolled and followed for 3 months/discharge. Breast milk and infant saliva samples were collected biweekly. Maternal CMV status was determined on breast milk. CMV was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and lactoferrin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In an in vitro neutralization assay, the IC90 of purified human lactoferrin against CMV was 2.08 ng/mL. Bovine lactoferrins were more potent, IC90s > 10-fold higher. Lactoferrin was detected in all breast milk (median: 3.3 × 106 ng/mL) and saliva (median: 84.4 ng/swab) samples. Median CMV load in breast milk was 893 copies/mL. There was no correlation between breast milk lactoferrin concentration and CMV load. Five infants acquired postnatal CMV. There was no difference in saliva or breast milk lactoferrin concentration for mother-infant pairs and postnatal CMV acquisition. CONCLUSION: Lactoferrin neutralizes CMV in vitro, but concentrations in breast milk and saliva are likely too low for effective neutralization in vivo.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Perinatol

DOI

EISSN

1098-8785

Publication Date

August 2021

Volume

38

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1070 / 1077

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Saliva
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
  • Pregnancy
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Milk, Human
  • Male
  • Lactoferrin
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
 

Citation

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Weimer, K. E. D., Roark, H., Fisher, K., Cotten, C. M., Kaufman, D. A., Bidegain, M., & Permar, S. R. (2021). Breast Milk and Saliva Lactoferrin Levels and Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection. Am J Perinatol, 38(10), 1070–1077. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1701609
Weimer, Kristin E. D., Hunter Roark, Kimberley Fisher, C Michael Cotten, David A. Kaufman, Margarita Bidegain, and Sallie R. Permar. “Breast Milk and Saliva Lactoferrin Levels and Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection.Am J Perinatol 38, no. 10 (August 2021): 1070–77. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1701609.
Weimer KED, Roark H, Fisher K, Cotten CM, Kaufman DA, Bidegain M, et al. Breast Milk and Saliva Lactoferrin Levels and Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection. Am J Perinatol. 2021 Aug;38(10):1070–7.
Weimer, Kristin E. D., et al. “Breast Milk and Saliva Lactoferrin Levels and Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection.Am J Perinatol, vol. 38, no. 10, Aug. 2021, pp. 1070–77. Pubmed, doi:10.1055/s-0040-1701609.
Weimer KED, Roark H, Fisher K, Cotten CM, Kaufman DA, Bidegain M, Permar SR. Breast Milk and Saliva Lactoferrin Levels and Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection. Am J Perinatol. 2021 Aug;38(10):1070–1077.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Perinatol

DOI

EISSN

1098-8785

Publication Date

August 2021

Volume

38

Issue

10

Start / End Page

1070 / 1077

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Saliva
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
  • Pregnancy
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Milk, Human
  • Male
  • Lactoferrin
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight