Background and study aim: Viral infections is the cause of liver inflammation, cirrhosis and even liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite the availability of HBV vaccine and antiviral treatment for HBV and HCV both remain a major health problem. The aim of this study To determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infection among pregnant women in Sharkia governorate, Egypt.
Subject and Methods: : is a cross-sectional study, It involved 563pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinic, all women are subjected to full history taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, detection of HBsAb, HCV antibodies by rapid one-step test then by ELISA if positive, PCR was done.
Results: In this study, 10 cases had anti-HCV positive with ELISA, 8 cases were positive by PCR while one case was positive for HBs Ag by ELISA, no co-infected pregnant women were detected. the prevalence rate of HBV&HCV was 0.17%, 1.7 % respectively.
Conclusion: All pregnant women should be routinely screened during an early antenatal visit for HCV Antibodies and HBsAg. Cases with HCV antibodies positivity should be subjected to PCR for HCV RNA.