Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026
12:34
Collection, Isolation, and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Human Endocervical Samples
Published on: July 6, 2014
Maternal factors in HIV transmission
R A Hague1, J Y Mok, F D Johnstone
1Infectious Disease Unit, City Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
International Journal of STD & AIDS
|May 1, 1993
Summary
Maternal HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) transmission risk to infants is higher within the first year post-seroconversion. Lower maternal CD4+ counts (< 400 cells/µL) also increase infant infection risk.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant global health concern.
- Identifying factors influencing HIV transmission from mother to child is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify clinical and immunological features associated with an increased risk of HIV transmission from seropositive mothers to their offspring.
- To inform counseling for mothers regarding their prognosis and their child's risk of infection.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 56 infants from pregnancy and review of obstetric records for 14 infants identified post-puerperium.
- Analysis of maternal factors including time since seroconversion, disease progression (Stage IV), and CD4+ T-cell counts.
- Assessment of HIV antigenaemia in mothers.
Main Results:
- HIV transmission occurred in 12 out of 70 infants (17.1%).
- Risk of transmission was significantly higher in infants born within the first year of maternal seroconversion (5/9 infected) compared to those born later (7/61 infected) (P < 0.001).
- Maternal CD4+ counts below 400 cells/µL were significantly associated with increased transmission risk (7/12 transmitting vs. 7/49 non-transmitting pregnancies, P < 0.01).
- Mothers of infected children were more likely to progress to Stage IV disease earlier (median 3 years) than mothers of uninfected children (median 5 years) (P = 0.032).
Conclusions:
- The timing of maternal seroconversion relative to pregnancy and maternal CD4+ T-cell count are critical predictors of vertical HIV transmission.
- These findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis, monitoring maternal immune status, and timely antiretroviral therapy to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission.
- Understanding these risk factors can guide clinical management and improve counseling for HIV-positive pregnant women and their families.
More Related Videos
08:12Isolation of Leukocytes from Human Breast Milk for Use in an Antibody-dependent Cellular Phagocytosis Assay of HIV Targets
Published on: September 6, 2019
05:22Ex vivo Culture of Human Placental Explants for the Study of Viral Transmission Across the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: December 30, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:24Transmission of Pathogens
Pathogens spread from their reservoirs to susceptible hosts through three main routes: contact transmission, vehicle transmission, and vector transmission. Each route involves distinct mechanisms of transfer.Contact TransmissionThis category includes direct contact, indirect contact, and droplet transmission:Direct contact involves immediate physical interaction between individuals—such as a handshake—which can spread pathogens like Streptococcus pyogenes, the bacterium responsible for...
01:28Amebiasis
Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
01:19Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...