The Effect of the Hepatitis B Vaccine Derived from Genotype C on Infants Born to Mothers Infected with Genotype D

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 59; no. 22; pp. 2825 - 2830
• Main Authors: Michitaka, Kojiro, Ohno, Naofumi, Hiasa, Yoichi, Watanabe, Takao, Tokumoto, Yoshio, Abe, Masanori, Yoshida, Osamu, Hiraoka, Atsushi, Ninomiya, Tomoyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 15.11.2020; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Adult; anti-HBc; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; DNA, Viral - genetics; Female; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - genetics; Hepatitis B - immunology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis B e antigen; Hepatitis B surface antigen; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B Vaccines - immunology; hepatitis B virus; Humans; Infants; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & control; Internal medicine; Japan; Male; mother-to-child transmission; Mothers; Original; Serum levels; vaccine; Vaccines; Japan; anti-HBc; vaccine; hepatitis B virus; genotype; mother-to-child transmission
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.5090-20

Objective There is a paucity of information on whether the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine, derived from HBV genotype C, can prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV genotype D. The aim of this study was to clarify this issue. Methods The subjects consisted of 25 children (8.5±4.1 years old, 7 males, 18 females), born to 17 mothers who were chronically infected with HBV genotype D. Of these, 20 children were inoculated with the genotype C-derived vaccine, one was inoculated with the genotype A-derived vaccine, and one was inoculated with both the A- and C-derived vaccines. Information on the type of vaccine given to the remaining three children was not available. The serum levels of HB surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), and antibody to HB core (anti-HBc) of the children, as well as HBV markers of the mothers, were examined. Results All mothers were positive for HBsAg (6,563±11,005 IU/mL), negative for HBeAg, and positive for anti-HBe. HBV-DNA levels (log IU/mL) were <3.3 in 7 mothers, 3.3-4.3 in 9 mothers, and >4.3 in one mother. HBsAg and anti-HBc were negative in all children, regardless of the type of vaccine used. Anti-HBs were positive in 13 children and negative in 12. Conclusion All children born to mothers infected with genotype D, including 20 who were inoculated with the genotype C-derived vaccine, were negative for both HBsAg and anti-HBc. These results suggest that the genotype C-derived HB vaccine is effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission from mothers infected with HBV genotype D.