SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibody detection in breast milk from a prospective multicentre study in Spain

Bauerl, C.. ; Randazzo, W. ; Sánchez, G. ; Selma-Royo, M. ; García Verdevio, E. ; Martínez, L. ; Parra-Llorca, A. ; Lerín, C. ; Fumadó, V. ; Crovetto, F. ; Crispi, F. ; Pérez-Cano, F. J. ; Rodríguez, G. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Ruiz-Redondo, G. ; Campoy, C. ; Martínez-Costa, C. ; Collado, M. C. on behalf of MilkCORONA study team

Resumen: Objectives: To develop and validate a specific protocol for SARS-CoV-2 detection in breast milk matrix and to determine the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the presence, concentration and persistence of specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Design and patients: This is a prospective, multicentre longitudinal study (April–December 2020) in 60 mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or who have recovered from COVID-19. A control group of 13 women before the pandemic were also included. Setting: Seven health centres from different provinces in Spain. Main outcome measures: Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in breast milk, targeting the N1 region of the nucleocapsid gene and the envelope (E) gene; presence and levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific immunoglobulins (Igs)—IgA, IgG and IgM—in breast milk samples from patients with COVID-19. Results: All breast milk samples showed negative results for presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. We observed high intraindividual and interindividual variability in the antibody response to the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein for each of the three isotypes IgA, IgM and IgG. Main Protease (MPro) domain antibodies were also detected in milk. 82.9% (58 of 70) of milk samples were positive for at least one of the three antibody isotypes, with 52.9% of these positive for all three Igs. Positivity rate for IgA was relatively stable over time (65.2%–87.5%), whereas it raised continuously for IgG (from 47.8% for the first 10 days to 87.5% from day 41 up to day 206 post-PCR confirmation). Conclusions: Our study confirms the safety of breast feeding and highlights the relevance of virus-specific SARS-CoV-2 antibody transfer. This study provides crucial data to support official breastfeeding recommendations based on scientific evidence.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-322463

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Archives of Disease in Childhood-Fetal and Neonatal Edition 107, 2 (2022), 217-221
ISSN: 1359-2998

Factor impacto JCR: 4.4 (2022)

Categ. JCR: PEDIATRICS rank: 13 / 130 = 0.1 (2022) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 9.8 - Medicine (Q1)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.861 - Medicine (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health (Q1) - Obstetrics and Gynecology (Q1)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Pediatría (Dpto. Microb.Ped.Radio.Sal.Pú.)