A study on hepatitis B virus transmission from father to infant

Objective:To investigate the relationship between hepatitis B virus(HBV) paternal-infant transmission and father's status of HBV chronic infection.Methods:A total of 88 cord blood samples from infants with father HBV carriers and mother no HBV infection were collected.ELISA was used to detect HBV serologic markers,and HBV loads in sera were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR).Results:HBV paternal-infant transmission rate was 27.3% in 88 cases of infants(24/88).The paternal-infant transmission rate in HBsAg/HBeAg/HBcAb group was significantly higher than that of HBsAg/ HBeAb/HBcAb group(χ2=6.468,P﹤0.05) and the other group(χ2=5.869,P﹤0.05).Further more,the positive rate of HBV infection of infants in father high HBV loads group was also significantly higher than that of father low HBV loads group(P﹤0.05).Conclusion:The paternal-infant transmission rate is influenced by father serum HBV loads.Higher serum HBV loads and HBsAg/HBeAg/HBcAb serologic markers model may increase risk of paterna-infant transmission.