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Hepatitis B infection in Bangladeshi mothers and infants
A de Francisco1, A J Hall, N Alam
1Public Health Sciences Division, International Center for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh.
Insights
Hepatitis B is common in rural Bangladesh. Perinatal transmission, from mother to infant, appears to be low, with only one of four infants born to infected mothers showing transmission.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health challenge.
- Understanding transmission routes is crucial for effective prevention strategies, especially in high-prevalence areas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B markers in mothers and infants in rural Bangladesh.
- To estimate the significance of perinatal transmission of Hepatitis B in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving paired serum samples from mothers and their infants (2-8 months old) and newborns.
- Hepatitis B markers (HBcAg, HBsAg, HBeAg) were detected using commercial ELISA kits.
Main Results:
- Overall prevalence of Hepatitis B markers: 32.4% HBcAg, 5.4% HBsAg, 1.2% HBeAg.
- Infant prevalence: 10.5% HBcAg, 0.3% HBsAg, 0% HBeAg.
- Perinatal transmission rate was low: 25% of infants born to HBeAg-positive mothers were HBsAg carriers, while none of the infants born to HBeAg-negative mothers were infected.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis B is prevalent in rural Bangladesh.
- Perinatal transmission of Hepatitis B appears to be a relatively minor route of infection in this setting.
- Further research may be needed to confirm these findings and explore other transmission dynamics.
Abstract:
In order to estimate the relative importance of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B in rural Bangladesh a cross-sectional study was carried out. Paired-serum samples of infants aged 2-8 months old, a group of new born, and their mothers were tested for hepatitis B markers using a commercial ELISA test kit. In total, 107 (32.4%) positive for HBcAg, 18 (5.4%) for HBsAg, and 4 (1.2%) for HbeAg. Of the infants, 35 (10.5%) positive for HBcAg, 1 (0.3%) for HBsAg, and none for HBeAg. Of the 18 HBsAg positive mothers, 4 (22%) were HBeAg positive. All 14 children of mothers who were HBeAg negative were negative for HBsAg. Only one out of four (25%) of children of HBeAg positive mothers were HBsAg carriers (8 months old), and in three children transmission did not occur (two 8 months, one 6 months old). This survey indicates that hepatitis B is prevalent in rural Bangladesh and that the perinatal transmission mode may be relatively low.