VERTICAL TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS-E VIRUS

Little is known about vertical transmission of hepatitis E virus from infected mothers to their infants. We studied eight babies born to mot hers infected with hepatitis fin third trimester. One baby was icteric at birth with elevated transaminases and four babies had anicteric he patitis. Two babies were born with hypothermia and hypoglycaemia and d ied within 24 h; one had massive hepatic necrosis. Hepatitis E virus R NA was detected by PCR in cord or birth blood samples of five infants. Six infants had evidence of hepatitis E infection. We conclude that h epatitis E virus is commonly transmitted from infected mothers to thei r babies with significant perinatal morbidity and mortality.