Abstract
Summary
Following a community-wide epidemic of influenza A/England virus infection, 64 cord blood samples were evaluated for their fetal serum and lymphocyte responses to this virus. Cord sera were tested for HI antibody vs. A/England with and without 2-ME. A fourfold or greater reduction in titer was observed in four, indicating fetal IgM antibody responses. In addition, lymphocyte samples from three of 16 tested showed proliferative responses to influenza A suggesting fetal lymphocyte sensitization with influenza virus. These data suggest that, in some pregnancies, influenza virus is capable of transplacental sensitization of the fetus.
The authors are grateful to Mei-Yin Luan for excellent technical assistance, to Dr. Douglas Thompson for assistance in reviewing clinic records, to Dr. Carl Norden for helpful review of our manuscript, and to JoAnne Petritis for her aid in preparing this manuscript.
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