HCV is vertically transmitted from mother to infant, and the risk of transmission is correlated with the titer of HCV RNA in the mother.

ABSTRACT. Clones of hepatitis B virus (HBVIndividuals infected with HBV have HBsAg, representing the viral envelope, in the circulation. In addition, they have either HBeAg, which is closely related to the viral nucleocapsid (I), or anti-HBe. The presence of HBeAg or anti-HBe in the serum is significant for the immunopathologic status of hosts and also for the biology of HBV infecting them (2).Perinatal HBV infection, resulting in a persistent camer state of babies, is transmitted by camer mothers who are positive for HBeAg (3, 4). Most babies born to them harbor HBV without symptoms; some develop a spectrum of hepatic disease ranging from chronic hepatitis to hepatocellular carcinoma later in their lives.