The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and its impact on pregnancy outcomes of women from Shaanxi Province (China) was assessed. Risk factors for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) were evaluated based on HBV-related seroprevalence data.Viral markers and biochemical parameters were assessed in HBsAg-positive mothers and their infants out of 13,451 cases recruited. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to test the general HBV knowledge. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were done to reveal possible risk factors for MTCT.The overall prevalence of HBsAg in pregnant women was 7.07% (951/13,451), and a rate as high as 9.40% was observed. Among the HBsAg-positive pregnant women, 30.49% (290/951) were HBeAg-positive, 22.08% (210/951) had HBV DNA levels >106 IU/mL and only 16.19% with a high risk of MTCT (34/210) had received antiviral treatment. The overall MTCT rate was 5.21%. Noteworthy, the risk ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of MTCT in HBeAg-negative mothers with HBV DNA levels >2 × 103 IU/mL and HBsAg >104 IU/mL was 26.062 (2.633–258.024), which was significantly higher than that of HBeAg-positive mothers with HBV DNA level >106 IU/mL. Moreover, the awareness and knowledge about HBV transmission, risk factors, and intervention for MTCT were generally lacking among HBsAg-positive mothers.As a higher HBsAg seroprevalence and a higher MTCT rate among HBeAg-negative mothers with lower HBV DNA level was observed, our study emphasizes different interventional criteria for HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative mothers. Extensive health education, routine screening, and immunization against HBV during pregnancy are highly warranted to minimize the possibility of perinatal transmission.

To investigate the infection and replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in primary cultured human granulosa cells. Human granulosa cells were cultured with HBV-positive serum. Media were collected and assayed for HBsAg and HBeAg by ELISA, and HBV DNA by quantitative PCR. HBsAg and HBcAg were detected by immunocytochemistry in cultured cells. HBV DNA and RNA were extracted and amplified by nested PCR. Intracellular HBV DNA was localized by in situ hybridization. By co-cultivation of human GCs with HBV-positive serum, a system was established to study HBV infection and replication in GCs. HBsAg in medium could be detected from 4 to 96 h, and HBV DNA could be detected from 12 to 96 h after exposure. HBsAg and HBcAg showed positive signals by immunocytochemistry. A 206-bp fragment was amplified by nested PCR to detect HBV DNA and RNA in granulosa cells. HBV DNA was detected in GC nuclei by in situ hybridization. HBV can infect and replicate in human primary granulosa cells. This culture system could enable us to study infection of ova by HBV.

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This study aimed to confirm that vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) can occur via the infected ovum. Specimens studied were obtained from discarded test-tube embryos from mothers with chronic HBV infection who had received in vitro fertilization treatment. Single-cell reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect HBV mRNA in the embryos. HBV mRNA was detected in the cleavage embryos of patients with chronic HBV infection, with a detection rate of 13.2% (5/38). The level of serum HBV DNA was not related to the HBV mRNA positivity rates in embryos. In this study, HBV mRNA was detected in test-tube embryos from HBV-infected mothers who had received in vitro fertilization treatment. This confirms the theory of vertical transmission of HBV via the ovum, thereby providing an important theoretical basis for further study on the mechanism of HBV vertical transmission, influencing factors and blocking measures.

Background/Aim:The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence hepatitis B virus (HBV) expression and replication in the ovum.Materials and Methods:Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques were used to assay the distributions of HBcAg, HBV DNA, and HBV mRNA in ovarian tissues and the ovum in 50 patients with chronic HBV infection. HBeAg and HBV DNA in the serum were also detected. Comparisons of categorical data were performed using McNemar test.Results:The positive rates of HBcAg, HBV DNA, and HBV mRNA in ovum and ovarian tissues of high replication group were significantly higher than low replication group (χ2 = 15.04, P < 0.05; χ2 = 12.96, P <0.05; χ2 = 19.36, P < 0.05; respectively). High positive rates of HBcAg, HBV DNA, and HBV mRNA in ovum and ovarian tissues were found in women with HBeAg-positive than HBeAg-negative (χ2 = 113.14,P < 0.05; χ2 = 11.13, P < 0.05; χ2 = 17.39, P < 0.05; respectively).Conclusion:HBV can infect and replicate in the ovary and ovum. Maternal HBeAg status and HBV DNA levels are important influencing factors.