GB virus C genotype 1 is rarely transmitted vertically but acquired during infancy in West Africa.
Paired Ghanaian plasma and cord blood from pregnant women, alongside plasma samples from children aged 1 day to 70 months, were tested for GBV-C, HIV-1 RNA loads and anti-E2. Frequency of GBV-C vertical transmission in West Africa is significantly lower than in Europe, the USA or East Asia where genotype 2 or 3 is prevalent. While horizontal transmission appears predominant in West Africa, the lower viral load of African genotype 1 might explain limited vertical transmission.
Li
Chengyao
C
Division of Transfusion Medicine, National Blood Service and University of Cambridge, UK.
Danso
Kwabena
K
Addo-Yobo
Emmanuel
E
Dompreh
Albert
A
Sarkodie
Francis
F
Owusu-Ofori
Shirley
S
Allain
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000821:virology; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D029407:GB virus C / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005838:Genotype; D005869:Ghana; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000821:virology*; D019562:Viral Load