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Copyright of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background An inverse association between markers of exposure to foodborne and orofecal pathogens and allergic sensitization has been reported. However, the findings of epidemiological studies have not been consistent. This study investigated the relationship between antibodies to hepatitis A, Toxoplasma gondii and salmonella and allergic sensitization to food and aeroallergens in children from different geographical areas. Methods Specific IgE and/or skin prick testing against food and aeroallergens were measured in children from 6 to 12 years of age residing in Greece, the Netherlands, China, India and Russia. Seropositivity to the three pathogens was measured, and data on potential confounders were collected using questionnaire. Results Data from 800 children (126 from Athens; 248 from Utrecht; 110 from Hong Kong; 119 from urban Tomsk; and 197 from rural Tomsk) could be analysed. The highest percentage of positive serology to salmonella was found in Hong Kong (46.4%), to T. gondii in urban Tomsk (13.4%) and to hepatitis A in Athens (71.2%). Although not significant, T. gondii seropositivity tends to be negatively associated, and hepatitis A seropositivity tends to be positively associated with allergic sensitization. Conclusion Inconsistent associations were observed between allergic sensitization to food and aeroallergens and markers of exposure to two common foodborne pathogens. The association with T. gondii tends to be negative, consistent with the 'hygiene hypothesis', but the association with hepatitis A tends to be positive. Taken together, there is no clear evidence that past exposure to foodborne and orofecal pathogens protects against allergic sensitization to food or aeroallergens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Because maternal seropositivity for CMV is associated with substantial protection against congenital CMV infection, prevention measures have focused mainly on seronegative pregnant women for decades. However, population-wide insight in the contribution of nonprimary infection (reactivation and/or re-infection with a different strain) on the most common sequela, hearing loss, is missing. A population-based prediction model was developed to estimate the proportion of congenital CMV-related hearing loss resulting from nonprimary maternal infection. Incorporated was a meta-analysis of the risk of hearing loss, calculating pooled proportions of children with hearing loss after nonprimary and primary infection. Subsequently, the model was applied for worldwide present population seroprevalences (range 30-95%). It was estimated that, for all population seroprevalences, nonprimary maternal infections are responsible for the majority of congenital CMV infections. This proportion increased with seroprevalence, ranging from 57% (95%CI 24-85%) to 96% (95% CI 88-99%) for seroprevalences of 30% to 95%. Our meta-analysis (six reports) showed that the risk of hearing loss after nonprimary infection was 11% (28/253 children, 95% CI 7-15%) versus 13% (50/385 children, 95% CI 10-16%) after primary infection. Incorporating this risk into our model, we estimated that nonprimary infections also accounted for the majority of CMV-related hearing loss. This proportion ranged from 53% (95% CI 13-86%) to 95% (95% CI 62-99%) for seroprevalences of 30% to 95%. Our data underline the worldwide contribution of nonprimary infections in causing CMV-related hearing loss. These results imply that prevention research such as vaccine and hygiene studies should not only be directed at seronegative but also seropositive pregnant women. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Disseminated adenovirus (AdV) infections following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) are increasingly recognised, particularly in children. This study evaluated the clinical relevance of disseminated AdV infections in adult allo-SCT recipients, after different conditioning regimens. Methods: In a cohort of 107 adult allo-SCT recipients, receiving either reduced intensity conditioning (RIC, n = 48) or myeloablative conditioning (MAC, n = 59), AdV DNA levels in plasma were determined retrospectively at 1, 3 and 6 months following transplantation. Results of this screening regimen were compared with a cohort of 58 paediatric allo-SCT recipients, in whom AdV DNA load was monitored prospectively, as part of a pre-emptive treatment strategy. In positive cases, the course of AdV DNA load and clinical outcome were assessed. Results: AdV DNA levels ≥1000 copies/mL were detected in five adults (4.7%) and eight children (13.8%). Screening for AdV viraemia at 1, 3 and 6 months would have detected seven of eight paediatric patients. One adult, receiving MAC, died with disseminated AdV disease and in four (three RIC and one MAC) AdV viraemia was transient without clinical symptoms specifically attributable to AdV. Seven paediatric patients with AdV viraemia were pre-emptively treated with ribavirin or cidofovir and in three of them disseminated AdV infection was related to a fatal outcome. Conclusions: Disseminated AdV infections following allo-SCT was a rare event in the adults and cause morbidity in a minority of these patients. In four of five adult patients, spontaneous clearance of AdV viraemia occurred. Results did not differ between the conditioning regimens that were applied in the adult cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To correlate quantitative maternal and fetal parvovirus B19 (B19V) viral loads and antibody levels at intrauterine transfusion (IUT) as a predictor of fetal morbidity. Methods Prospectively collected clinical data and quantitative B19V viral load and specific IgM and IgG values in fetal and maternal blood samples taken during IUT. Results Maternal IgM and IgG levels exceeded fetal antibody levels. Fetal viral load measurements correlated positively with maternal viral loads and exceeded maternal viral load 105-fold ( p < 0.0001). Maternal B19V IgM and fetal B19V viral load showed a positive correlation ( r = 0.840, p = 0.007). No relation was found between fetal viral load and severity of fetal anemia derived from Doppler flow measurements in the middle cerebral artery. Conclusions Maternal and fetal B19V viral load values are highly interrelated, suggesting continuous maternal and fetal viral replication or a fetal source of maternal viremia. Maternal B19V IgM values may predict the severity of fetal infection, but the severity of B19V induced fetal anemia cannot be predicted using fetal or maternal viral loads. Fetal ultrasound remains the gold standard for identifying fetal anemia in B19V infection. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]