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Enterovirus infections in young infants: are children still protected by maternal antibodies?

Liina Salur1, Sami Oikarinen, Sisko Tauriainen

  • 1Immunology Group, Institute of General and Molecular Pathology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.

Human Vaccines
|August 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Enterovirus infections are common in infants, with many lacking protective maternal antibodies. This study highlights the need for further research into the implications of these infections for infant health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Enterovirus infections are frequent in childhood and linked to chronic diseases like type 1 diabetes.
  • Maternal antibodies typically protect young infants, but declining enterovirus circulation may be reducing this effect.
  • The study investigates enterovirus infections in infants and the role of maternal antibodies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the occurrence of enterovirus infections in 55 infants.
  • To assess the protective effect of maternal antibodies against enteroviruses.
  • To track the development of enterovirus antibodies in infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study involving 55 infants.
  • Detection of enteroviruses in fecal samples using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  • Serotype identification of enteroviruses via VP1 region sequencing.

Main Results:

  • Enterovirus RNA was detected in 12 of 194 fecal samples before polio vaccination (Coxsackieviruses A4, A5, A16; Echoviruses 13, 16).
  • Polio virus strains predominated after vaccination.
  • Maternal neutralizing antibody levels were generally high, but 3 out of 8 infants lacked antibodies against the enterovirus serotype found in their stool.

Conclusions:

  • Enterovirus infections are common in infants before 3 months of age.
  • A significant proportion of infants lack maternal antibodies against the enterovirus causing their infection.
  • The clinical significance of this lack of maternal antibody protection requires further investigation in larger studies.

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