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Type-Specific Antiviral Antibodies to Genital Human Papillomavirus Types in Mothers and Newborns

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University, Innsbruck,Austria, heim_kurt{at}yahoo.com

Gernot Hudelist, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital,Villach,Austria, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Special Gynecology, Medical University Vienna, Austria

Andrea Geier, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University, Innsbruck,Austria

Hannes Szedenik, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University, Innsbruck,Austria

Neil D. Christensen, PhD

The Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Foundation, Department of Pathology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey

Nicole Concin, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University, Innsbruck,Austria

Anton Bergant, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University, Innsbruck,Austria

Birgit Volgger, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University, Innsbruck,Austria

Klaus Czerwenka, MD

Department of Clinical Pathology, Division of Gynecopathology, Medical University Vienna, Austria

Reinhard Höpfl, MD

Department of Dermatolgy and Venerology, Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

Type-specific antibodies to human papillomaviruses (HPVs) can be detected in most infected adult patients, and they have virus-neutralizing properties. However, there is a dearth of information on the seroprevalence of maternal and neonatal antibodies to HPV capsid antigens. Sera from 104 mothers, their newborns, and 3 twin pregnancies were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the presence of specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies to virus-like particles of HPV-6, -11, -16, -18, and -31. Maternal IgG positivity rates to HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, and 31 were 23.1%, 2.9%, 8.7%, 5.8%, and 9.6%, respectively. Neonatal rates did not differ significantly, and individual IgG ELISA values of mothers and their infants and all paired twins showed a very high correlation. In contrast, nearly all IgM and IgA individual values in newborns were designated negative, whereas mothers' positivity rates ranged as high as 19.2%. Infants showed no HPV-related lesions at birth or at 4-year follow-up. Seven of 8 tested children lost IgG HPV antibodies in a follow-up examination. Similar anti-HPV IgG seropositivity in mothers and newborns and a lack of neonatal IgA and IgM together with twin and follow-up results indicate that neonatal IgG is not a sign of intrauterine HPV infection but, rather, maternofetal antibody transmission.

Key Words: Antibody • human papillomavirus • virus-like particle • serology • capsid • mother • newborn • fetus • neonate • maternofetal transmission

Reproductive Sciences, Vol. 14, No. 8, 806-814 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1933719107309546


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