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Abstract

Title: Provirus load in breast milk and risk of mother-to-child transmission of human T lymphotropic virus type I.
Author: Li HC, Biggar RJ, Miley WJ, Maloney EM, Cranston B, Hanchard B, Hisada M
Journal: J Infect Dis 190(7):1275-1278
Year: 2004
Month: October

Abstract: In a prospective study of 101 mother-child pairs in Jamaica, we examined the association of provirus load in breast milk and the risk of mother-to-child transmission of human T lymphotropic virus type I. The provirus load in breast milk was a strong predictor of risk of transmission to children (relative risk, 2.34/quartile), after adjustment for other known risk factors. The risk of transmission increased from 4.7/1000 person-months when the provirus load in breast milk was <0.18% to 28.7/1000 person-months when it was >1.5%. Provirus detection in maternal breast milk predicted transmission months before infection in children was detected by serologic testing.