Article
Enduring Challenges despite Progress in Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus in Angola
Registro en:
PELIGANGA, Luis Baião et al. Enduring Challenges despite Progress in Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus in Angola. Pathogens, v. 11, 225, p. 1 - 16, Feb. 2022.
2076-0817
10.3390/pathogens11020225
Autor
Peliganga, Luis Baião
Horta, Marco Aurélio Pereira
Lewis-Ximenez, Lia Laura
Resumen
Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection globally,
with an incidence of 1.5 million and 0.8 million yearly deaths, which drives synergistic efforts
towards its elimination. To assess the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HBV infection, a crosssectional
study was conducted on 1012 pregnant women in Angola to investigate HBV serological
and molecular profiles. The prevalence of HBV was 8.7% (n = 88), with hepatitis B core IgM antibody
(anti-HBc IgM) positivity identified in 12.8%, hepatitis B “e” antigen (HBeAg) positivity in 30%,
and HBV DNA 200,000 IU/mL in 28.2%. Family tracking studied 44 children, of which 11 (25%)
received at least two doses of the hepatitis B vaccine. HBV was detected in 10/44 (22.7%) children,
with vaccination reported in one infected child. Further testing identified anti-HBc IgM positivity
in 3/10 (30%), HBeAg positivity in 55%, and both seromarkers in 20%. The results revealed the
importance of antenatal HBV screening, antiviral prophylaxis for mothers with high viral loads or
HBeAg positivity, and timely first-dose hepatitis B vaccines in newborns. Anti-HBc IgM positivity
among pregnant women and children highlights prophylactic measures worth considering, including
antenatal hepatitis B vaccination and catch-up vaccination to young children.