August 2021
HTLV 1 or 2
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Maternal Infections HTLV 1 or 2
HTLV 1 or 2
Transmission of the human T cell lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 requires transfer of live infected T lymphocytes from breastmilk, semen, or blood1. Vertical transmission of HTLV 1/2 has been shown to be greater through breastfeeding than through pregnancy, labor & delivery2. Prevention of breastfeeding is considered a proven intervention to prevent maternal child transmission. There are no clinical trials of ART to prevent transmission of these viruses via breastmilk3.
References
- Carneiro-Proietti ABF, Amaranto-Damasio MSA, Leal-Horiguchi CF, Bastos RHC et al Mother-to-Child Transmission of Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Viruses- 1/2: What We Know, and What are the Gaps in Understanding and Preventing This Route of Infection J Ped Infect Dis Vol 3 Suppl 1 p. S24-29, 2014.
- US Centers for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/contraindications-to-breastfeeding.html (accessed 8/15/2021).
- Rosadas C, Taylor GP. Mother-to-Child HTLV-1 Transmission: Unmet Research Needs Front Microbiol May 8 2019 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00999/full.