Preliminary study on the prevalence and risk of mother-to-fetal transmission of hepatitis B and C in asymptomatic Egyptian women

The sera of 52 pregnant Egyptian women were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and anti-HCV antibodies [Ab] by ELISA. Neonatal cord blood sera were similarly tested for HBsAg and anti-HCV Ab. The results showed that HBsAg was detected in 28/52 women. Sixteen HBsAg positive babies were born vaginally to the 28 HBsAg- positive mothers. Anti-HCV Ab was detected in 6/52 women. Four anti- HCV Ab positive babies were born to the six anti-HCV Ab-positive mothers. The prevalence of HBV was significantly higher than that of HCV, but both were very high in Egyptian women. No significant difference was found between mother-to-fetal transmission of HBV and that of HCV