Genetic evidence for mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis G virus

J Infect Dis. 1997 Jul;176(1):281-5. doi: 10.1086/517267.

Abstract

Mother-to-infant transmission of hepatitis G virus (HGV [or GBV-C]) was studied in sera from 42 mothers at high risk for bloodborne infections and from their 45 infants (3 twin pairs). Seven (17%) of the mothers had HGV RNA in serum by a polymerase chain reaction assay. One of the 8 (12.5%) infants born to HGV-infected mothers became positive for HGV at 3 months of age. He remained HGV-infected throughout the study (42 months), with no signs of liver disease. His twin sister remained HGV-negative despite the presence of serum and salivary HGV in both the mother and the brother. Analysis of HGV sequences from the infected mother and the infected child confirmed a genetic link between the virus of the mother and the infected child. Thus, mother-to-infant transmission of HGV, presumably occurring at partus, may cause persistent HGV viremia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Female
  • Flaviviridae* / genetics
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Pregnancy
  • RNA, Viral / blood

Substances

  • RNA, Viral