[Studies on maternal transmission of HIV-1]

To investigate HIV-1 transmission from mother to child, samples taken from 3 HIV-1 sero-positive pregnant mothers, 3 children born by caesareans from their mothers and therapeutic abortion from 2 HIV-1 sero-positive mothers were tested for HIV-1 antibody by westernblot, p24 antigen by antigen captured ELISA, proviral DNA by Nested-PCR and isolation of HIV-1 virus from peripheral blood, cord blood, amniotic fluid and placenta. HIV-1 proviral DNA was detected in the peripheral blood of all mothers, but p24 antigen and virus isolation were not detected. None of the HIV-1 markers, except for antibody, was detected in the samples from their children and placenta. These facts strongly suggest that there was no HIV-1 transmission from mother to child.