Prevalence and vertical transmission of human pegivirus among pregnant women infected with HIV

Objective: To determine the prevalence of human pegivirus (HPgV) and factors associated with vertical transmission among pregnant women infected with HIV. Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women treated at an HIV reference service in Rio Grande, Brazil, between January 1, 2010, and January 1, 2015. The polymerase chain reaction was used to diagnose HPgV infection among the women and their neonates. Clinical, obstetric, and neonatal data were obtained from medical records. Results: Infection with HPgV was detected among 16 (25%) of 63 women and 5 (8%) of 63 newborns, corresponding to a vertical transmission rate of 31%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the absence of prenatal care was the only risk factor for vertical transmission of HPgV (prevalence ratio 19.61, 95% confidence interval 1.29-297.48; P=0.032). Conclusion: Prenatal care could protect against vertical transmission of HPgV among women infected with HIV; however, studies among HIV-negative individuals are still required to verify this correlation.