title: GB virus C genotype 1 is rarely transmitted vertically but acquired during infancy in West Africa.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Transfusion Medicine, National Blood Service and University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Chengyao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kwabena
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Danso
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Addo-Yobo
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dompreh
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarkodie
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Owusu-Ofori
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Allain
mesh_terms: 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