Prevalence of HBV, HDV, HCV, and HIV infection during pregnancy in northern Benin.

Pregnant women are not screened for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies in many African countries. As there are few data concerning the prevalence of HBV, HDV, and HCV serological markers in Benin, the aim of this study was to evaluate their 2011 prevalence in pregnant women undergoing HIV screening in a rural area of north Benin, and compare the data with those reported for the same area in 1986. The sera of 283 women were examined for HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV 1/2 antibodies. In the case of HBsAg positivity, a search was made for the HBeAg, anti-HDV, and HBV genotypes; in the case of anti-HCV positivity, a search was made for the HCV genotypes. HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV 1/2 were positive in respectively 44 (15.5%), 82 (29.0%), 234 (82.7%), 21 (7.4%), and nine samples (3.2%). Of the HBsAg-positive samples, five (11.4%) were positive for HBeAg, five (11.4%) for anti-HDV, and 19 for HBV genotype E. Of the anti-HCV-positive samples, five were positive for genotype 2a/2c and one for genotype 1a. The prevalence of anti-HBc alone (HBsAg and anti-HBs negative) was very high (41.3%). In comparison with the 1986 data, the prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc remained unchanged, that of HBeAg and anti-HDV had decreased, and that of anti-HIV 1/2 had increased. As these data confirm that HBV and HCV are highly endemic in the study area, it may be appropriate to introduce HBsAg and anti-HCV screening for pregnant women. J. Med. Virol. 86:1281-1287, 2014.