Congenital papillomavirus infection in cattle: Evidence for transplacental transmission.

Vertical transmission of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) infection was investigated on livers and kidneys of four foetuses from cows suffering from BPV-2-associated urothelial cancers of the urinary bladder. PCR analysis revealed the presence of BPV-2 E5 DNA in the livers and kidneys of two foetuses. Amplified DNA fragments, composed of 502 bp, showed a 100% homology with BPV-2 sequences (GenBank accession number: M20219.1). BPV-2 was found to be transcriptionally active. Indeed, reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR showed BPV-2 E5 transcripts. Sequencing of amplified cDNA, composed of 154 bp, showed a 100% identity with BPV-2 E5 sequences (GenBank accession number: M20219.1). Western blot analysis revealed the presence of dimers of E5 oncoprotein. Furthermore, a statistically significant increase of the phosphorylated (activated) form of the platelet-derived growth factor ß receptor (PDGFßR) was also detected in the fetal tissues. PDGFßR is believed to form the most important interaction with the E5 oncoprotein, thus regulating biological activity of virus protein. The strong concordance between virus found in fetal organs with virus detected in infected mothers provides evidence that BPV-2 can spread through blood and vertical infection occurs via transplacental transmission. Finally, molecular findings of this study raise unsolved questions about the potential role of BPVs in reproductive disorders. The presence of E5 oncoprotein, as in adult organs, may also activate the constitutive receptor PDGFßR in foetal organs, which plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis and embryonic development. Therefore, abnormal phosphorylation of PDGFßR may be involved in vascular and organogenesis abnormalities other than cancer.

Evidence for vertical transmission of HPV from mothers to infants.

Few large studies have evaluated concordance based on a broad spectrum of human papillomavirus (HPV) types in oral and genital specimens of mothers and their recently born infants. This information is important in determining whether HPV vaccines administered prior to pregnancy may be useful for preventing vertical transmission. HPV DNA was positive in 30% of mothers and 1.5% of newborns. Maternal/newborn concordance (HPV+/+ or HPV-/-) was 71%. Among HPV DNA+ mothers, only 3% of their infants were DNA+ and only 1 pair had the same HPV type. Among HPV- women, 0.8% of infants were HPV+. HPV DNA detected in hospitalized newborns reflects current infection transmitted to infants during pregnancy or delivery. None of the mother/baby HPV DNA+ concordance pairs detected viral types found in HPV vaccines suggesting that vaccination prior to pregnancy is unlikely to be efficacious in preventing vertical transmission.

Human papillomavirus infections in children: the potential role of maternal transmission.

To date, more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been identified. In the past 20 years, there has been an increasing interest in HPVs because of their potential role in the pathogenesis of malignant tumors. HPV infections are known to affect predominantly adult, sexually active age groups, whereas skin warts, at various anatomic sites, are usually associated with younger individuals. The modes of viral transmission in children remain controversial, including perinatal transmission, auto- and hetero-inoculation, sexual abuse, and, possibly, indirect transmission via fomites. Recent studies on perinatal infection with HPV have been inconclusive. It is still unclear how frequently perinatal infection progresses to clinical lesions, whether genital, laryngeal, or oral. Conflicting reports have been published on the prevalence of HPV infections in children. The current consensus is, however, that newborn babies can be exposed to cervical HPV infection of the mother. The detection rate of HPV DNA in oral swabs of newborn babies varies from 4% to 87%. The concordance of HPV types detected in newborn babies and their mothers is in the range of 57% to 69%, indicating that the infants might acquire the HPV infection post-natally from a variety of sources. HPV antibodies have been detected in 10% to 57% of the children, and there is usually no correlation between seropositivity and the detection of HPV DNA in either the oral or the genital mucosa. There is also evidence that transmission in utero or post-natal acquisition is possible. The mode of in utero transmission remains unknown, but theoretically the virus could be acquired hematogenously, by semen at fertilization, or as an ascending infection in the mother. The understanding of viral transmission routes is important, particularly because several vaccination programs are being planned worldwide. The serologic response to HPV detected in different populations of young women or women at risk of cervical cancer might be due to genital infections, but the possibility that HPV infection has been acquired earlier in life through the oral mucosa or respiratory tract cannot be ruled out.

Congenital papillomas and papillomatoses associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV): report on 5 cases

Introduçao: Os autores apresentam um estudo de cinco casos de papilomas e papilomatoses vulvares congênitas em neo e nati-mortos. Material e Métodos: O material utilizado foi proveniente de cinco necrópsias. A avaliaçao histopatológica mostrou aspectos sugestivos de infecçao pelo Pailomavirus humano (HPV). A microscopia eletrônica de três dos casos identificou partículas viróticas nucleares e citoplasmáticas variando de 40 a 60 nm, compatíveis com HPV. Resultados: O estudo imunohistoquímico destas lesoes demonstrou imunopositividade citoplasmática e nuclear. Conclusao: Os autores concluíram que a presença de partículas viróticas somada a imunopositividade em células escamosas, sao evidências do provável envolvimento etiológico do HPV nestas lesoes.

Congenital papillomas and papillomatoses associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV)-report on 5 cases.

The authors present a study of five cases of vulvar congenital papillomas and papillomatoses in stillborns and neonates dead upon birth. The studied material was collected from five necropsies. The histopathological evaluation showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, perinuclear haloes, and nuclear abnormalities. In three of the cases, the electron microscopy identified nuclear and cytoplasmatic viral particles ranging from 40 to 60 nm in size, compatible with HPV. The immunohistochemical study of those lesions showed nuclear and cytoplasmatic positivity. The authors concluded that the presence of viral particles suggestive of HPV added to the immunopositivity indicated the possibility of viral infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases in neonates and infants.

With the current resurgence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), familiarity with the clinical manifestations of STDs in neonates and infants is essential to minimize the tragic consequences. The recognized routes of transmission of the diseases include transplacental, intrapartum, and postpartum exposure. This discussion will be confined to infections caused by syphilis, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, gonorrhea, and chlamydia emphasizing clinical aspects in this population.