Human and animal togavirus antibodies in congenitally deformed infants

Abstract

The cord bloods of 30 congenitally malformed infants, born consecutively at the Worcester Royal Infirmary, were screened for serological evidence of infection with Border disease and bovine virus diarrhoea viruses as well as for the presence of rubella‐, cytomegalovirus‐, and measles‐specific IgM. Despite Border disease and bovine virus diarrhoea being endemic among sheep and cattle in counties bordering Wales, none of the cord blood samples contained antibodies to Border disease or bovine virus diarrhoea viruses. No rubella‐, measles‐, or cytomegalovirus‐specific IgM was detected. When the total immunoglobulins were estimated, 15 of the malformed infants had elevated levels, but in a control group of 35 infants born in the same unit, none showed significantly elevated immunoglobulin levels.