Vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus to infants of anti-human immunodeficiency virus-negative mothers: molecular evolution of hypervariable region 1 in prenatal and perinatal or postnatal infections

J Clin Microbiol. 2003 Aug;41(8):3955-9. doi: 10.1128/JCM.41.8.3955-3959.2003.

Abstract

In a prospective study of 33 infants born to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive human immunodeficiency virus-negative mothers the vertical transmission of HCV occurred in 6.8%. The evolution of HCV infection in two babies was studied from birth up to 5 or 6 years of age, and the sequencing of the hypervariable region (HVR) of the putative envelope-encoding E2 region of the HCV genome was performed. The HVR1 sequence variability and the different serological profiles during follow-up could reflect the differences in HCV transmission routes, HCV genotypes, and clinical evolution of infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Complementarity Determining Regions / genetics*
  • DNA Primers
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Seronegativity
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / embryology
  • Hepatitis C / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
  • Time Factors
  • Viremia / diagnosis

Substances

  • Complementarity Determining Regions
  • DNA Primers