Viral prevalence by gestational age and season in a large neonatal cord blood cohort

Abstract

Objective

To investigate viral prevalence in a large neonatal cohort and determine the impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Study design

We prospectively collected 1044 neonatal samples from remnant neonatal cord blood RPR samples. We performed qRT-PCR/qPCR reactions for: adenovirus, anellovirus (alphatorquevirus and betatorquevirus), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), enterovirus, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6), parechovirus, and parvovirus B19.

Result

Overall viral prevalence was 5.6% with 58 positive samples. Alphatorquevirus (2%) and HHV6 (1.2%) were the two most prevalent viruses detected. Viral detection was most common in samples collected in the fall (September-November) and least common in those collected in winter (December–February). There was no statistical difference detected in viral prevalence or viral load by gestational age, preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia or chorioamnionitis.

Conclusion

While there is seasonal variation in viral prevalence in neonatal cord blood samples, individual virus presence does not seem to effect pregnancy or birth outcomes.

Keywords:

• Virus
• cord blood
• neonate
• maternal transmission
• viral prevalence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation [2017076] and March of Dimes [BOC 388999].