Results are expressed in percentage. K2 test was used for comparison in between groups. Results: We recruited 242 PW, and 45 selleck screening library HP who met the selection criteria for the study. PW were aged 18 to 44 years with a mean age of 26.18 ± 5.39 years. HP comprised 10 MD; 24 state nurses; 3nurses

and 8 assistant nurses. Concerning the PW: 16% were tested positive to HBs Ag; Among those who were negative to HBs Ag, 50% had already come into contact with the virus B, as thy were positive to HBc antibody. We did not search for virus B DNA. 91% of PW had never done a screening, and 97% were not vaccinated against VHB. Only 7% of PW knew they was possible mother to child transmission of VHB.44% did not know that vaccine against VHB was included in the expanded program of immunization. Concerning the HP: 57% of the nurses, did not consider that screening, for VHB was necessary in PW, 70% denied to have given any health education on VHB to pregnant women and did not know what measures to take to prevent mother to child transmission of VHB. Conclusion: Mother- to- child transmission of HBV in Cameroon seems to be multi factorial. They are high prevalence, poor knowledge aptitude and practices of pregnant

women, non sufficient Tanespimycin research buy knowledge of health personnel. Key Word(s): 1. Hepatitis B; 2. Transmission; 3. Africa; Presenting Author: OLGANIKOLAEVNA KHOKHLOVA Additional Authors: ARAROMANOVNA REIZIS, LIDYAVASILIEVNA SEREBROVSKAYA, BORIS REIZIS Corresponding Author: OLGANIKOLAEVNA KHOKHLOVA Affiliations: The Central Institute

LY294002 for Epidemiology, Federal Supervision Servise for Consumer Rights Protection and People,s Welfare; Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology Columbia University Medical Center Objective: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are major producers of type I and type III interferons (IFN) in response to viral infections. The role of pDCs in the pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and in the therapeutic activity of IFN in HCV patients is poorly understood. Our goal was to assess the number and functional status of pDCs in children and adults with HCV and correlate it with disease progression and response to IFN therapy. Methods: We examined peripheral blood of 28 healthy controls and 133 patients (58 children and 75 adults) at different stages of HCV infection and during the course of therapy with recombinant IFNα. The pDC population was enumerated by flow cytometry, and in vitro IFN production in the whole blood in response to pDC-specific stimulus unmethylated CpG oligonucleotides was determined by ELISA. Results: The fraction and numbers of pDCs were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in both children and adult HCV patients compared to age-matched healthy controls. The decrease was most pronounced in adult patients with advanced liver fibrosis (Metavir score 3-4).