Article

Maternal and neonatal seroprevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Tripoli, Libya.

Faculty of Sciences, Al-Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya.
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries (impact factor: 1.19). 01/2010; 4(3):168-70. pp.168-70
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Pregnant women with Hepatitis B virus HBV represent a major reservoir of the virus in the community. Data regarding the prevalence of HBV in pregnant women and maternal transmission of the virus in Libya are lacking.
Hepatitis blood samples from 1,500 pregnant women and 1,500 cord blood samples of their neonates delivered at Tripoli Medical Center, Tripoli, were tested for HBsAg by ELISA technique. HBsAg-positive samples were also tested for HBeAg.
HBsAg was detected in 1.5% (23/1,500) pregnant women and in 0.9% (14/1,500) neonates. Although HBsAg was detected at higher rate in pregnant women aged > 25 years [1.8% (22/1,235)] than in pregnant women aged < 25 years [0.4% (1/265)], the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). All HBsAg-positive neonates were born to HBsAg-positive mothers with a rate of maternal transmission at 60.9% (14/23). HBeAg was detected in 21.7% (5/23) and in 7.1% (1/14) of HBsAg-positive pregnant women and neonates, respectively.
Because of the high risk of developing chronic HBV infection at birth among infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers, administration of HBIG in combination with hepatitis B vaccine as post-exposure prophylaxis for such infants is of paramount importance. In addition, universal HBsAg screening of all pregnant women will greatly assist in reducing the maternal transmission of HBV in the country.

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Keywords

1,500 cord blood samples
 
chronic HBV infection
 
HBsAg-positive mothers
 
HBsAg-positive neonates
 
HBsAg-positive pregnant women
 
HBsAg-positive samples
 
HBV
 
hepatitis B vaccine
 
Hepatitis B virus HBV
 
Hepatitis blood samples
 
higher rate
 
infants
 
major reservoir
 
maternal transmission
 
neonates
 
paramount importance
 
post-exposure prophylaxis
 
pregnant women
 
prevalence
 
Tripoli Medical Center