title: Low risk of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C virus in Yaounde, Cameroon: the ANRS 1262 study.
abstract: To assess mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Cameroon, 5,008 pregnant women were screened for HCV antibodies. Eighty-nine (1.8%) were HCV-antibody (HCV-Ab) positive. Among these, 7 (7.9%) were HBsAg positive, 6 (6.7%) HIV-positive, and one (1.1%) was co-infected by both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV. Sixty-eight (76%) out of 89 HCV-Ab positive pregnant women were HCV-RNA positive. The HCV genotype determination indicated the predominance of genotype 4 (45.3%), followed by the genotypes 1 (28.1%) and 2 (26.6%). The mean HCV-RNA levels of 41 women at the time of delivery was 4.8 (range 0.06-34.7) x 10(6) RNA copies/mL. Finally, 35 women delivered 36 live children. None of those screened at 6 weeks and 6 months of age were HCV-RNA positive. The failure to detect HCV vertical transmission suggests that the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is not a major route of HCV transmission in Cameroon.
authors.affiliation: Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, Yaoundé, Cameroun; Laboratoire de Virologie, CHU Toulouse Purpan, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Njouom
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.forename: Ahidjo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayouba
authors.forename: Mathurin Cyrille
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tejiokem
authors.forename: Aurelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vessiere
authors.forename: Jermie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mfoupouendoun
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tene
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eteki
authors.forename: Marcel Monny
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lobe
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izopet
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nerrienet
mesh_terms: D002163:Cameroon; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral