Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Antibodies, and Neutralizing Capacity in Milk Produced by Women with COVID-19
Ryan M. Pace, Janet E. Williams, Kirsi M. Järvinen, Mandy B. Belfort, Christina D. W. Pace, Kimberly A. Lackey, Alexandra C. Gogel, Phuong Nguyen‐Contant, Preshetha Kanagaiah, Theresa Fitzgerald, Rita Ferri, Bridget E. Young, Casey Rosen‐Carole, Nichole Diaz, Courtney L. Meehan, Beatrice Caffé, Mark Y. Sangster, David J. Topham, Mark A. McGuire, Mark A. McGuire, Antti Seppo, Shelley McGuire, Shelley McGuire
Abstract
Results from prior studies assaying human milk for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of COVID-19, have suggested milk may act as a potential vehicle for mother-to-child transmission. Most previous studies are limited because they followed only a few participants, were cross-sectional, and/or failed to report how milk was collected and/or analyzed. As such, considerable uncertainty remains regarding whether human milk is capable of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 from mother to child. Here, we report that repeated milk samples collected from 18 women following COVID-19 diagnosis did not contain SARS-CoV-2 RNA; however, risk of transmission via breast skin should be further evaluated. Importantly, we found that milk produced by infected mothers is a source of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG and neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 activity. These results support recommendations to continue breastfeeding during mild-to-moderate maternal COVID-19 illness as milk likely provides specific immunologic benefits to infants.