No evidence for vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in two neonates with mothers infected in the second trimester

Abstract

Background

COVID-19 reported in pregnant women has occured in late pregnancy, while there are no reports of infection in the first and second trimester. We report two neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 during the second trimester.

Case presentation

Two pregnant women had symptomatic COVID-19 in the second trimester. Throat swabs at delivery for SARS-COV-2 RNA were negative for both women and their newborns. The first woman had positive serum IgM and IgG antibodies to SARS-COV-2 before delivery. Her newborn had negative IgM antibody to SARS-COV-2 but IgG was positive on the 7th day after birth. The second woman had negative serum IgM antibody to SARS-COV-2 but IgG was positive before delivery. Her newborn had negative serum IgM antibody to SARS-COV-2 but IgG was positive at 48 h after birth. None of the neonates developed clinical symptoms of COVID-19.

Conclusion

SARS-COV-2 is unlikely to be vertically transmitted in utero as evidenced by the specific antibodies in the serum of the two women and their newborns. The two women with SARS-COV-2 infection in the second trimester did not develop serious complications at delivery and outcomes of the neonates were good.

Keywords:

• The second trimester
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• IgM
• IgG

Acknowledgements

We thank all the medical staff involved in treating the two mothers and their newborn.

Consent for publication

Written informed consent for publication of the clinical details was obtained from the patients.

Disclosure statement

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