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Specific and Nonspecific Protective Factors in Milk: Why Don’t They Prevent Viral Transmission During Breastfeeding?

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Integrating Population Outcomes, Biological Mechanisms and Research Methods in the Study of Human Milk and Lactation

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 503))

Abstract

It is generally agreed that breastfeeding reduces the incidence and severity of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections in infants,1 including those caused by respiratory syncytial virus, rotavirus and enteroviruses.2 Protection against viral infection is provided by a multiplicity of protective factors including secretory antibodies, lipids, lactoferrin, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), and oligosaccharides.3, 4 Despite the presence of antiviral compounds in human milk, some viruses are transmitted from mother to infant via milk. Reports in the literature suggest that most milk-transmitted viruses are enveloped (Table 1).

Table 1. Some Enveloped Viruses Transmitted Through Milka

Virus Typeb

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV) 5

R

Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-l) 6

R

Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus Type 2 (HTLV-2) 7

R

Murine Leukemia Virus8

R

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus9

R

Maedi/Visna Virus 10

R

Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus 11

R

Mouse Mammary Tumor ViruS 12

R

Rubella Virus 2

R

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) 2, 13, 14

R

  1. a There are conflicting reports as to whether a number of other enveloped viruses are transmitted by human milk including herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, hepatitis C virus, Varicella-Zoster virus and Epstein-Barr virus.3. 15-19
  2. b Retrovirus (R); Herpes virus (H); Togavirus (T)

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  1. New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, 10314, Staten Island, NY, USA

    Charles E. Isaacs Ph.D.

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  1. Charles E. Isaacs Ph.D.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Margarett K. Davis

  2. New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA

    Charles E. Isaacs

  3. University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Lars Å. Hanson

  4. University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA

    Anne L. Wright

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Isaacs, C.E. (2002). Specific and Nonspecific Protective Factors in Milk: Why Don’t They Prevent Viral Transmission During Breastfeeding?. In: Davis, M.K., Isaacs, C.E., Hanson, L.Å., Wright, A.L. (eds) Integrating Population Outcomes, Biological Mechanisms and Research Methods in the Study of Human Milk and Lactation. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 503. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0559-4_20

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