Horizontal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus From Mother to Child Due to Immune Escape Despite Immunoprophylaxis

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019 May;68(5):e81-e84. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002318.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination starting at birth is approximately 95% effective in preventing mother-to-child transmission to infants born to HBV-infected mothers. A higher risk of transmission is associated with birth to a highly viremic mother, often due to transplacental exposure, while later horizontal transmission is much less common, particularly following complete vaccination. This study reports a case of infection in an older child despite appropriate immunoprophylaxis starting at birth and an apparent protective immune response post-vaccination. Two immune escape mutations within the antigenic determinant of the surface antigen-coding region were observed in the child's dominant HBV sequence, whereas the maternal HBV variant lacked mutations at both sites. Ultra-deep sequencing confirmed the presence of 1 mutation at low levels within the maternal HBV quasispecies population, suggesting early exposure to the child followed by viral evolution resulting in immunoprophylaxis escape and chronic infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B / transmission*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / genetics
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / immunology
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology*
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Immune Evasion / immunology*
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control
  • Mutation / immunology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines