Background/aims: GBV-C/Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is transmitted parentally, but some of the transmitted routes are still unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of family members in the transmission of HGV.
Methodology: The study group enrolled 11 children from four index mothers with HGV viremia, whereas the control group had 14 children from seven matched mothers without HGV infection. Detection of circulating HGV RNA and anti-E2 antibody was conducted. Comparison of partially HGV nucleotide sequences at the 5' non-coding and non-structure 5 regions was performed among the infected family members.
Results: There was higher HGV viremia in children from the index mothers with HGV infection than those from mothers in control (3/11 vs. 0/14, p < 0.05). Nucleotide sequences analysis showed higher similarity between mothers and their children in the same family (98.6% to 100%) than between mothers of different families (87.8% to 92.4%). The phylogenetic construction also demonstrated distinct sequence clusters for mother and child/children of each family.
Conclusions: The relationship of HGV transmission between mother and children was closely related in family. Spread of HGV might occur intrafamilially.