Mother‐to‐Child Transmission of GB Virus C in a Cohort of Women Coinfected with GB Virus C and HIV in Bangkok, Thailand

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Abstract
BackgroundGB virus C (GBV-C) is an apathogenic virus that inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in vitro. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of GBV-C has been observed in multiple small studies. Our study examined the rate and correlates of MTCT of GBV-C in a large cohort of GBV-C–HIV-coinfected pregnant women in Thailand MethodsMaternal delivery plasma specimens from 245 GBV-C–HIV-infected women and specimens from their infants at 4 or 6 months of age were tested for GBV-C RNA. Associations with MTCT of GBV-C were examined using logistic regression ResultsOne hundred one (41%) of 245 infants acquired GBV-C infection. MTCT of GBV-C was independently associated with maternal antiretroviral therapy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.21 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.12–12.81]), infant HIV infection (AOR, 0.05 [95% CI, 0.01–0.26]), maternal GBV-C load (⩾8.0 log10 copies/mL: AOR, 86.77 [95% CI, 15.27–481.70]; 7.0–7.9 log10 copies/mL: AOR, 45.62 [95% CI, 8.41–247.51]; 5.0–6.9 log10 copies/mL: AOR, 9.07 [95% CI, 1.85–44.33]: reference, 10 viral copies/mL), and caesarean delivery (AOR, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.12–0.59]) ConclusionsAssociations with maternal GBV-C load and mode of delivery suggest transmission during pregnancy and delivery. Despite mode of delivery being a common risk factor for virus transmission, GBV-C and HIV were rarely cotransmitted. The mechanisms by which maternal receipt of antiretroviral therapy might increase MTCT of GBV-C are unknown

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