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Breast milk has always been the best source of nourishment for newborns. However, breast milk can carry a risk of infection, as it can be contaminated with bacterial or viral pathogens. This paper reviews the risk of acquisition of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpesviruses frequently detected in breastfeeding mothers, via breast milk, focusing on the clinical consequences of this transmission and the possible strategies for preventing it. Maternal VZV infections are conditions during which breastfeeding may be temporarily contraindicated, but expressed breast milk should always be given to the infant. CMV infection acquired through breast milk rarely causes disease in healthy term newborns; an increased risk of CMV disease has been documented in preterm infants. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not regard maternal CMV seropositivity as a contraindication to breastfeeding; according to the AAP, in newborns weighing less than 1500 g, the decision should be taken after weighing the benefits of breast milk against the risk of transmission of infection. The real efficacy of the different methods of inactivating CMV in breast milk should be compared in controlled clinical trials, rigorously examining the negative consequences that each of these methods can have on the immunological and nutritional properties of the milk itself, with a view to establish the best risk-benefit ratio of these strategies before they are recommended for use in clinical practice.

HHV-8 (Human Herpesvirus 8) is a human lymphotropic and transforming virus closely associated to the development of Kaposis's sarcoma, Castleman's disease and Primary Effusion Lymphoma among immunosuppressed patients. Prevalence of infection varies according to different geographic area and to ethnic group or to risk factors. No effective treatments are available at present.

Background: The role of males who are sexual partners of females with genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and premalignant lesions is explored in the present study., Methods: In a period of 6 years, 845 females with genital premalignant and HPV-associated lesions were examined and treated at the Sexual Transmitted Disease Center of S. Gallicano Hospital. The male partners of were asked to attend this Center, and 163 (70%) of them responded. All participants underwent sexual anamnesis, genital inspection and colposcopic examination., Results: Macroscopic lesions were found in 7.4% of the males enrolled. The colposcopic prevalence of HPV infection among the male partners was 21.8% 3 months later among 28 negative patients to the first colposcopic control, 2 were found positive., Conclusions: These data confirm that the colposcopic evaluation of male partners during an HPV infection of the couple is to be considered for the therapeutic assessment and evolution control of the infection in each couple.

Human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) infection was serologically investigated in renal transplant recipients. Before transplantation, 75.5% of patients was seropositive for HHV-6 and no correlation with age, sex and time on dialysis was found. During the first month after transplantation 66% of patients showed a variation in serological status against HHV-6 (seroconversion or fourfold increase of antibody titer). All patients who seroconverted had received the kidney from a HHV-6 seropositive donor, furthermore, in 11/13 (84.6%) pairs of patients receiving the kidney form the same seropositive donor, both members or had HHV-6 active infection or had no infection. The frequency of HHV-6 active infection in seropositive patients is almost the same in case of seronegative or seropositive donor. Comparing HHV-6 and CMV infections, they resulted independent as CMV infection in these patients occurs in a following period (II-III month). Notwithstanding a higher frequency of kidney rejection in patients with active HHV-6 infection, no significative correlation was found.

Herpes Simplex virus infection (Particularly by HVS2) is one of the most important disease transmitted by mother to newborn because of the seriousness of symptoms and the high incidence of genital infection of pregnants. Transmission of congenital HVS infection occurs usually by contact with infected genital secretions during the birth process, but there is evidence that transplacenter transmission also may occur. Emphasis must be placed then on prophylaxis of genital infection of pregnants and of their partners. Specific Immunoglobulins with high antibody titre are recommended for prophylaxis. An anti HVS2 vaccine without oncogen property os still at experimental stage. This prophylaxis is inadequate for the newborn of infected mother: this one must be treated with newer antiviral agents (Acyclovir), even is absence of herpetic lesion and other symptoms.

The epidemiology and prophylaxis of the commonest diseases induced by herpesviruses are described. Clinical and therapeutical aspects are briefly reviewed.