Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Antibody Positive Orphan Newborns

Background: The rate of mother-to-infant hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission is relatively low, however, this mode of infection is the most important route for childhood HCV involvement. The chances of transmission are increased by the level of maternal HCV viraemia and maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co infection. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of HCV infection in orphan newborns of infected mothers. Patients and Methods: A total of 29, two to seven month old, orphan infants were included in the study. The tests performed consisted of the detection of; anti-HCV and anti-HIV antibodies, HCV RNA in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and finally the detection of HCV core antigens (HCV core Ag). Results: Anti-HCV antibodies were detectable in all of the infants. However HCV RNA was undetectable in both plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and there were also no anti-HIV 1/2 antibodies present in the infants. Conclusions: Few studies have addressed the issue of mother-to-infant transmission of HCV among orphan newborns. According to the present study, carried out with orphan babies, the use of a HCV core Ag assay and evaluation of HCV RNA in PBMCs together with HCV RNA real-time PCR on the plasma, could benefit the prediction or exclusion of HCV transmission from mother to child.