Viral hepatitis serological markers among pregnant women in Caracas, Venezuela: implication for perinatal transmission of hepatitis B and C.

Viral hepatitis serological markers were analyzed in two groups of pregnant women residing in Caracas from: 1) a maternity unit at the moment of delivery (106 sera, low income population), and 2) a private clinic during the third trimester of pregnancy (105 sera, medium-high economic class population). A higher percent positivity was observed in the maternity unit compared to the private clinic for hepatitis A virus (HAV) as measured by anti-HAV activity (96% vs 48%; p < 0.01%), for hepatitis B virus (HBV) as measured by anti-HBc activity (13% vs 2%; p < 0.01%), but not for HBV carriage, as measured by HBsAg (3.8% vs 0%; p = 0.06 %). These differences appear to correlate with the socio-economic level. All the HBsAg positive sera were HBeAg negative and negative for the presence of DNA by PCR, confirming the low rate of perinatal transmission observed in Venezuela. Two out of 106 sera (1.9%) were positive for HCV antibodies in the maternity unit and 0/105 in the private clinic, although these differences were non significant (N.S.). Two out of 106 sera (1.9%) were positive for HEV antibodies in the maternity unit and 1/80 (1.3%) in the private clinic (N.S.). The anti-HEV seropositivity probably reflects a past infection. The importance of testing these viral markers during pregnancy is discussed.