Cover -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- Diagnosis of Maternal and Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection -- Introduction -- The virus -- Epidemiology -- Pathogenesis of congenital infection -- Diagnosis of maternal infection -- Diagnosis of foetal infection -- Diagnosis of infection in newborns -- Conclusions -- References -- Herpes Simplex Virus Infections of the Newborn -- Introduction -- Virology -- Epidemiology -- Clinical features -- Laboratory studies and diagnosis -- Treatment -- Prognosis -- References -- Epidemiology of Herpes Viruses 6 and 7 in Children -- The viruses -- Epidemiology and pathogenesis -- Clinical presentation -- Diagnosis -- Treatment -- Prevention -- References -- Varicella-Zoster Virus Infections during Pregnancy -- Varicella-zoster virus -- Epidemiology and consequences of varicella-zoster virus infections during pregnancy -- Varicella pneumonia -- Congenital varicella syndrome -- Neonatal varicella -- Prophylaxis and therapy -- References -- Human Immunodeficiency Viruses: Molecular Virology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment -- Introduction -- Etiologic agent -- Pathogenesis -- Diagnostic and assay technology -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Mother-to-Child Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 -- Epidemiology of HIV-1: 2005 update -- Epidemiology of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 -- Correlates of HIV-1 MTCT: a mean to predict transmission -- A decade of clinical trials with antiretroviral drugs to prevent MTCT of HIV-1 -- WHO recommendations for the prevention of HIV-1 MTCT -- General considerations -- References -- Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus: Molecular Biology and Diagnosis -- Hepatitis B virus -- Hepatitis C virus -- References -- Perinatal Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Japan -- Introduction -- Carrier rates of hepatitis B virus in Japan -- Prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus in Japan -- Immunoprophylaxis of perinatal HBV transmission in Shizuoka prefecture and its effectiveness in decreasing the transmission of the HBV carrier state -- Prevention of perinatal HBV transmission in Iwate from 1981-1992 and sero-epidemiological evidence for its effectiveness -- Prevalence of surface antigen mutants -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Hepatitis C in Pregnancy and Mother-to-Infant Transmission of HCV -- Introduction -- Prevalence of HCV infection among women of childbearing age -- Reproductive counselling -- Hepatitis C and pregnancy -- Rates and risk factors for vertical transmission of HCV -- Diagnosis and outcome of HCV vertical infection -- Conclusion -- References -- Human Parvovirus B19: Molecular Virology, Clinical Features, Prevalence, Diagnosis and Control -- Parvovirus B19-introduction -- Molecular virology -- Clinical features and prevalence -- Immunity to B19 infection -- Blood product safety and pregnancy -- Treatment and vaccination -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Rubella Virus: Molecular Composition, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Control -- Molecular composition -- Rubella genotypes -- Clinical manifestations -- Congenital rubella -- Diagnosis -- Rubella vaccine -- References -- Congenital Chagas Disease -- Background on Trypanosoma cruzi infection and Chagas disease -- Congenital T. cruzi infection -- Acknowledgements -- References.