Maternal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: Safety of Breastfeeding in Infants Born to Infected Mothers

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recent epidemic disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome virus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In pregnancy, SARS-Cov-2 infection creates additional alarm due to concerns regarding the potential for transmission from the mother to the baby during both the antenatal and postpartum times. In general, breastfeeding is seldom disallowed because of infection of the mother. However, there are few exceptions with regards to certain infectious organisms with established transmission evidence from mother to infant and the link of infection of a newborn with significant morbidity and mortality. It is confirmed that pregnant women can become infected with SARS-CoV-2, although the debate on the possible vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is still open. In this regard, the literature is still poor. On the contrary, the information on the safety of breastfeeding even during infections seems reassuring when the mother takes the necessary precautions. However, there are still answered questions regarding the precautions to be taken during breastfeeding by COVID-19 patients. This paper reviews the existing answers to these and many other questions. This review therefore presents a summary of the present-day understanding of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and discusses the answers around the maternal transmission of COVID-19 and the potential threat of breastfeeding to babies born to infected pregnant mothers. In conclusion, intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection is less likely to occur during pregnancy. Most studies suggest that COVID-19 is not transmitted through breast milk. Correspondingly, COVID-19-infected neonates might acquire the infection via the respiratory route because of the postnatal contact with the mother rather than during the prenatal period. International organizations encourage breastfeeding regardless of the COVID-19 status of the mother or child as long as proper hygienic and safety measures are adhered to so as to minimize the chance of infant infection by droplets and direct contact with the infected mother. Pasteurized donor human milk or infant formula as supplemental feeding can be quite beneficial in the case of mother–infant separation till breastfeeding is safe.

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A Comparison of Virulence of Three Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2) Genotypes (a, b, and d) in Pigs Singularly Inoculated with PCV2 and Dually Inoculated with PCV2 and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10070891 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 891

Author(s):

Jeongmin Suh ◽

Taehwan Oh ◽

Keehwan Park ◽

Siyeon Yang ◽

Hyejean Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Porcine Circovirus Type ◽

Porcine Circovirus Type 2 ◽

Daily Weight Gain ◽

Porcine Circovirus ◽

Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽

Average Daily Weight Gain ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Lesion Severity ◽

Severe Lung

The aim of this study was to compare the virulence of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) genotypes in dually inoculated pigs with both three genotypes (a, b, and d) of PCV2 and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-2 (PRRSV-2) versus pigs singularly inoculated with the same three PCV2 genotypes (a, b, and d). Differences in this comparison were found in PCV2 viremia levels, lung and lymphoid lesion severity, and the amount of PCV2 antigen within the lymphoid lesions. Regardless of PCV2 genotypes, pigs that were dually inoculated with PCV2/PRRSV had significantly higher clinical scores, less average daily weight gain, higher levels of PCV2 viremia, and more severe lug and lymphoid lesions compared to pigs singularly inoculated with PCV2. Among the dually infected pig groups, pigs infected with PCV2d/PRRSV-2 had significantly higher levels of PCV2 viremia, more severe lung and lymphoid lesions, and more PCV2-positive cells within lymphoid lesions compared to pigs dually inoculated with PCV2a/PRRSV-2 and PCV2b/PRRSV-2. The results of this study demonstrated significant differences in the virulence among dual inoculation of PCV2a/PRRSV-2, PCV2b/PRRSV-2, and PCV2d/PRRSV-2. A significant difference in the virulence among PCV2a, PCV2b, and PCV2d single-inoculated pig groups was not found with respect to the levels of PCV2 viremia and production of PCV2-associated lymphoid lesions.

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Epidemiological investigation of porcine circovirus type 2 and its coinfection rate in Shandong province in China from 2015 to 2018

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-020-02718-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Zicheng Ma ◽

Mengda Liu ◽

Zhaohu Liu ◽

Fanliang Meng ◽

Hongyu Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pseudorabies Virus ◽

Porcine Circovirus Type ◽

Porcine Circovirus Type 2 ◽

Shandong Province ◽

Porcine Circovirus ◽

Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽

Limited Information ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Diarrhea Virus

Abstract Background Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is one of the crucial swine viral pathogens, caused porcine circovirus associated diseases (PCVAD). Shandong province is one of the most important pork producing areas and bears a considerable economic loss due to PCVAD. However, there is limited information on epidemiology and coinfection rate of PCV2 with other critical swine diseases in this area, such as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), Pseudorabies virus (PRV), and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Results Overall, 89.59% serum samples and 36.98% tissue samples were positive for PCV2 specified ELISA and PCR positive for PCV2, respectively. The coinfection rates of PCV2 with PRRSV, PRV, CSFV, and PEDV were 26.73%, 18.37%, 13.06%, and 3.47%, respectively. Moreover, genetic characteristic of PCV2 were analyzed based on the cap genes showing that PCV2d is the dominant sub-genotype circulating in the province. Conclusions Our findings reveal that PCV2d, as the dominant strain, is prevailing in pig farms in Shandong province at high levels. There was a high frequency of coinfection of PCV2 and PRRSV.

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Newly-designed primer pairs for the detection of type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus genes

Journal of Virological Methods ◽

10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114071 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 291 ◽

pp. 114071

Author(s):

Wataru Fukunaga ◽

Yuiko Hayakawa-Sugaya ◽

Fumiko Koike ◽

Nguyen Van Diep ◽

Isshu Kojima ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Respiratory Syndrome Virus

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Development of a genome copy specific RT-qPCR assay for divergent strains of type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

Journal of Virological Methods ◽

10.1016/j.jviromet.2015.02.007 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 218 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Allyn Spear ◽

Kay S. Faaberg

Keyword(s):

Qpcr Assay ◽

Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽

Genome Copy ◽

A Genome

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Preliminary assessment of correlation between T-lymphocyte responses and control of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in piglets born after in-utero infection of a type 2 PRRSV

Korean Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.14405/kjvr.2018.58.1.9 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (1) ◽

pp. 9-16

Author(s):

Sang-Ho Cha ◽

Carey Bandaranayaka-Mudiyanselage ◽

Chandima B. Bandaranayaka-Mudiyanselage ◽

Dharani Ajiththos ◽

Kyoung-Jin Yoon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Lymphocyte ◽

In Utero ◽

Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽

Preliminary Assessment ◽

Lymphocyte Responses ◽

And Control

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Safety Measures of Journalists during Corona Pandemic in Bangladesh

Global Journal of Human-Social Science ◽

10.34257/gjhssavol20is11pg29 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 29-45

Author(s):

Kazi M. Anisul Islam ◽

Md. Sumon Ali ◽

Asma Islam ◽

Shahariar Khan Nobel ◽

Nazmul Hasan Shajib ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Financial Crisis ◽

Health Risks ◽

International Organizations ◽

First Responders ◽

Safety Measures ◽

Copy Editor ◽

Professional Responsibilities ◽

Safety Plan ◽

The Media

Among other frontline fighters, journalists have been the first responders to the pandemic of the "COVID-19" virus. Because of following professional responsibilities, they have become highly vulnerable to get exposed to the risk. As a result, providing safety measures to them has received the highest priority at this time. It has been urged by national and international organizations and associations to media employers to provide safety measures to their respective journalists. This study aims to examine the management of media employers of Bangladesh in providing safety measures to journalists. The study interviews 48 journalists of 12 newspapers and 12 television channels, selecting one reporter and one copy editor from each media. The results reveal that the majority of journalists received inadequate, non-standard, irregular, imbalanced, and improper safety measures while the rest got nothing because of the employer’s total negligence and financial crisis. The study also shows that the media employers failed to distribute safety measures between reporters and copy editors equally. Based on the findings, the study concludes by calling for a proper safety plan to protect journalists from health risks.

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