Occult hepatitis B virus infection among injecting drug users in the Central-West Region of Brazil

Occult hepatitis B infection is characterized by the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Egypt is among the highest in the world. In this study, we aim at analysing the rates of occult HBV infections among HCV paediatric cancer patients in Egypt. The prevalence of occult HBV was assessed in two groups of paediatric cancer patients (HCV positive and HCV negative), in addition to a third group of paediatric noncancer patients, which was used as a general control. All groups were negative for HBsAg and positive for HCV antibody. HBV DNA was detected by nested PCR and real-time PCR. HCV was detected by real-time PCR. Sequencing was carried out in order to determine HBV genotypes to all HBV patients as well as to detect any mutation that might be responsible for the occult phenotype. Occult hepatitis B infection was observed in neither the non-HCV paediatric cancer patients nor the paediatric noncancer patients but was found in 31% of the HCV-positive paediatric cancer patients. All the detected HBV patients belonged to HBV genotype D, and mutations were found in the surface genome of HBV leading to occult HBV. Occult HBV infection seems to be relatively frequent in HCV-positive paediatric cancer patients, indicating that HBsAg negativity is not sufficient to completely exclude HBV infection. These findings emphasize the importance of considering occult HBV infection in HCV-positive paediatric cancer patients especially in endemic areas as Egypt.

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“…Moreover, De Matos et al . detected serum occult HBV DNA in 12.7% of injecting drug users in Brazil.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of occult hepatitis B among Egyptian paediatric hepatitis C cancer patients

Raouf

Yassin

Megahed

et al. 2014

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

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“…However, this is the first study that evaluated the risk factors with an expressive sample size. Furthermore, occult hepatitis B was found in one professional, which reinforces low endemicity . The cause of this low endemicity is likely due to the increase in vaccination programs conducted in the general population .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…The molecular analysis of HBsAg‐positive samples in this study, showed genotypes A1 and F2 of HBV. These two genotypes are commonly detected in Brazil . The genotype A1 was brought to America during the slave trade, so it was commonly found in African descendants .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological and molecular analysis of hepatitis B virus infection in manicurists in Central Brazil

Cavaretto

Motta-Castro

Teles

et al. 2017

Journal of Medical Virology

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The aim of this study was to investigate the serological and molecular prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 514 manicurists/pedicurists and identify the risk factors related with this infection. Samples were tested for HBV serological markers, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-HBc-positive samples were tested to investigate occult hepatitis B by PCR. HBsAg-positive samples were genotyped and the viral loads of HBV-DNA positive samples were quantified. The overall HBV prevalence was 5.6% (29/514) and of HBsAg was 0.4% (2/514). One case of occult hepatitis B was found. The genotypes A1 and F2 were identified in two HBsAg-positive samples. Low level of education, not being born in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul and working in the central region of the city were associated with the HBV infection. No single manicurist/pedicurist was infected by HCV or HIV. These findings suggest that despite the exposure to blood contact, this occupation was not associated to an increased risk of acquiring HBV, HCV, and HIV infections.

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“…16,17 The prevalence of occult HBV infection is influenced by a number of factors, such as sensitivity of the technique used to detect the HBV DNA and epidemiological characteristics of the population, making it difficult to compare results of different studies. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] The current study was the first in Brazil that investigated the occurrence of occult HBV infection in leprosy patients and identified occult infection in 5.3% of those tested. This frequency was lower than that reported in HIV/AIDS 19,20 patients (approximately 14%) or in patients with tuberculosis (coinfected or not with HIV) 24 in the same country.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Brazil is responsible for 13% of the new cases of leprosy in the world, but it is considered a country of “low” endemicity for HBV, with a prevalence of HBsAg estimated at 0.65% . The prevalence of occult HBV infection is influenced by a number of factors, such as sensitivity of the technique used to detect the HBV DNA and epidemiological characteristics of the population, making it difficult to compare results of different studies …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with leprosy

Costa

Morais

Gonçales

et al. 2018

Journal of Medical Virology

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Leprosy patients may present with immune system impairment and have a higher hepatitis B virus (HBV) seroprevalence, justifying the investigation of occult HBV infection in these individuals. The aim of this study was to verify the frequency and the clinical factors associated with occult HBV infection in leprosy patients. Between 2015 and 2016, leprosy patients from a reference center in Brazil were interviewed to assess clinical data. Blood samples were collected for the screening of HBV serological markers using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Patients with negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that had positive anti‐HBc and/or anti‐HBs were selected for HBV DNA detection using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. SPSS was used for data analysis. Among 114 selected patients, six were identified with occult infection (5.3%) and five of them with multibacillary leprosy. Three patients with occult infection had a history of a type 2 reaction (P = 0.072; OR, 4.97; 95% CI, 0.87‐28.52). Only two patients with occult infection had isolated anti‐HBc, while three had isolated anti‐HBs, including those with the highest HBV DNA titers. In conclusion, in leprosy patients with negative HBsAg and positive anti‐HBc and/or anti‐HBs, occult HBV infection occurs in 5.3% and can be found even in patients with isolated anti‐HBs.

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Occult hepatitis B virus infection among injecting drug users in the Central-West Region of Brazil

Cited by 25 publications

References 29 publications

Seroprevalence of occult hepatitis B among Egyptian paediatric hepatitis C cancer patients

Seroprevalence of occult hepatitis B among Egyptian paediatric hepatitis C cancer patients

Epidemiological and molecular analysis of hepatitis B virus infection in manicurists in Central Brazil

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with leprosy

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