[Prenatal virus infections and orofacial clefts]

A potential teratogenic activity of virus infections caused by the viruses of rubella, influenza, parotitis, hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus and the Epstein-Barr virus was investigated. Specific antibodies against these viruses were examined serologically in children with orofacial clefts and in their mothers and the results were compared with those obtained in control children and their mothers. Different micromethods were used in performing the examinations (ELISA, RIA, NIR, KFR, HIT). Evaluation of the results and their statistical processing supports the assumption that prenatal infection may have occurred in the series studied induced by the viruses of influenza, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and possibly also by the Epstein-Barr virus. No association with the viruses of parotitis and hepatitis B was established. (Tab. 5, Ref. 36.)