Research Letters Seroprevalence of HIV and Other Vertically Transmitted Viral Infections Among Pregnant Women of Amritsar (Punjab, North India) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and some other viral agents (rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses) get transmitted to the fetus in utero, during birth or in neonatal period and result in significant morbidity and mortality of both the fetus and the mother [1]. Vertical transmission is by far the most important route of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in children below the age of 15 years and 5 years, respectively [2, 3]. Rubella and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are the primary agents responsible for several congenital defects [1]. In India, pregnant women are exposed to a variety of such infections due to poor environment and hygiene. The infections are mostly inapparent or asymptomatic and are thus difficult to diagnose on clinical grounds. The present study therefore reports the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, Rubella, HSV (Herpes simplex virus) and CMV infections in the pregnant women of Amritsar (North India). During the course of 2 years (July 2002 to June 2004), HIV antibody status of 1700 pregnant women of Amritsar (Punjab, North India) who attended the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre attached to Government Medical college, Amritsar was determined (with informed consent) by 3E/S/R (ELISA/Rapid/Simple Tests). Out of these 1700 women, 400 consecutive apparently healthy, asymp- tomatic women with history of normal obstetric performance were further tested by specific ELISA tests to detect the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against rubella, CMV and HSV. HBsAg and antiHCV antibodies were studied as markers of prevalence of HBV and HCV respectively. The mean age of pregnant women of our study was 23.1  4.0 years. Majority (57.25%) of them were from lower socioeconomic group and about 40% were either illiterate or had only primary education. Upto 81% of them were housewives and no one had been immunized against rubella and HBV infections. Four of 1700 women (0.23%) of our study were found to be positive for HIV-1 and none for HIV-2. The risk factor identified for infection was the promiscuous sexual behaviour of spouses of all the four seropositive women. HBsAg seropositivity was 5% and antibodies against HCV were there in 1.25% women. Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against rubella, CMV and HSV were 71.5%, 89.44% and 71.25% and that of IgM antibodies was 7.04%, 8.33% and 0.75%, respectively. The present study thus suggests that some of the viral infections like rubella, CMV, Hepatitis B and even Hepatitis C are quite prevalent in the pregnant women of our region. This stresses an urgent need for formulation of screening strategies for asymptomatic pregnant women and for effective immunization policies against hepatitis B and rubella infections. Presently, both Hepatitis B vaccination and MMR are not included in the National Immunization Schedule of India. Since no effective vaccine is available to protect against CMV, Hepatitis C and HSV infections, more emphasis should be laid upon urgent targeted interventions and prevention through information and counselling. Control of HBV and HCV infections is even more important as they lead to chronicity and persistent infection in children which then become the most important reservoir of these infections in the community. NEERJA JINDAL,NIDHI SINGLA,SHEEVANI, RAVNEET KAUR, and ARUNA AGGARWAL Government Medical College, Amritsar, Punjab, India doi:10.1093/tropej/fmm081 Advance Access Published on 30 September 2007 References 1. Brooks GF, Butel JS, Morse SA. Pathogenesis and Control of viral diseases. In: Jawetz, Melnick, and Adelberg’s Medical Microbiology (22nd edn), Stamford Connecticut: Appleton and Lange, 2001; 338–55. 2. Kapoor A, Kapoor A, Vani SN. Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV Ind J Pediatrics 2004;71:247–51. 3. Chakravarti A, Rawat D, Jain M. A study on the perinatal transmission of the Hepatitis B virus Ind J Med Microbiol 2005;23:128–30. Correspondence: Dr Neerja Jindal 113, Race Course Road, Amritsar 143001, Punjab, India. E-mail <neerjarajender@hotmail.com>. Investigation of Relationship of Atherosclerotic Risk Factors and Early Atherosclerotic Findings in Obese Children by Doppler Ultrasonography The prevalence of obesity is increasing in all age groups throughout the world as a result of the new dietary habits of modern life and decrease in physical activity [1–3]. Atherosclerosis that affects morbidity and mortality in adulthood is one of the most serious complications of obesity. In recent studies, it is shown that atherosclerotic findings in obese people start to appear in childhood ß The Author [2007]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org 145 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/tropej/article-abstract/54/2/145/1689647 by guest on 14 June 2020