Prevalence and correlates of GB virus C infection in HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected pregnant women in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

GB virus C (GBV-C) is an apathogenic virus that has been shown to inhibit HIV replication. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of GBV-C infection and clearance in three cohorts of pregnant women in Thailand. The study population consisted of 1,719 (1,387 HIV-infected and 332 HIV-uninfected) women from three Bangkok perinatal HIV transmission studies. Stored blood was tested for GBV-C RNA, GBV-C antibody, and if RNA-positive, genotype. Risk factors associated with the prevalence of GBV-C infection (defined as presence of GBV-C RNA and/or antibody) and viral clearance (defined as presence of GBV-C antibody in the absence of RNA) among women with GBV-C infection were examined using multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of GBV-C infection was 33% among HIV-infected women and 15% among HIV-uninfected women. GBV-C infection was independently associated (AOR, 95% CI) with an increasing number of lifetime sexual partners (referent-1 partner, 2 partners [1.60, 1.22-2.08], 3-10 partners [1.92, 1.39-2.67], >10 partners [2.19, 1.33-3.62]); injection drug use (5.50, 2.12-14.2); and HIV infection (3.79, 2.58-5.59). Clearance of GBV-C RNA among women with evidence of GBV-C infection was independently associated with increasing age in years (referent <20, 20-29 [2.01, 1.06-3.79] and ≥30 [3.18, 1.53-6.60]), more than 10 lifetime sexual partners (3.05, 1.38-6.75), and HIV infection (0.29, 0.14-0.59). This study found that GBV-C infection is a common infection among Thai women and is associated with HIV infection and both sexual and parenteral risk behaviors.

Prevalence, Incidence Density, and Genotype Distribution of GB Virus C Infection in a Cohort of Recently HIV-1-Infected Subjects in Sao Paulo, Brazil

“…Ramezani et al studying 82 Iranian HIV positive patients found a GBV-C prevalence of 10.97% and there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence between the two groups studied: 13.5% in IDUs (13.5%) vs. heterosexuals (6.7%)[42]. The results of this study indicate that the parental route of transmission may be an important method of viral transmission, though other routes ie sexual [43] and household contact [44] may also play a role in GBV-C epidemiology. The prevalence of GBV-C infection was 9% in a group of 64 hemodialysis patients from Caracas, Venezuela [45], 13.6%, all genotype 2, in a total of 104 hemodialysis patients living in Tehran [46].…”

GB Virus C (GBV-C) Infection in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Seropositive Women with or at Risk for HIV Infection

“…These findings agree with that of Bhanich Supapol et al . who reported similar risk factors for GBV-C infection in a cohort of Thai women [14] . We also found that GBV-C genotype distribution differed by racial group and possibly by IDU status among HIV/GBV-C co-infected women.…”

“…Several international studies have examined perinatal transmission of GBV-C or the impact of GBV-C infection on HIV transmission or disease progression in pregnant women [6] – [13] . For instance, in a large study of pregnant women, GBV-C infection was associated with increasing number of lifetime sexual partners, IDU, and HIV infection, while GBV-C clearance was associated with increasing age, more than 10 lifetime sexual partners, and no HIV infection [14] . Sexual transmission of GBV-C has been examined as well [2] , [15] , [16] .…”

Human pegivirus type 1 infection in Asia—A review of the literature

“…showed high similarity between viral sequences from mothers and their children, suggesting mother‐to‐child transmission of HPgV‐1 194 . In Thailand, 19%–33% of pregnant women were HPgV‐1 positive, and 41% of HPgV‐1 positive women transmitted HPgV‐1 to their infant 195–197 …”