Low rate of occult hepatitis B virus infection among anti-HBc positive blood donors living in a low prevalence region in Brazil - 14/08/11
Abstract |
Objective |
The aim of this study was to determine the rate of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among blood donors living in a geographic region of low (5.6%) anti-HBc prevalence.
Subjects and methods |
Sera from 150 candidate blood donors whose blood was rejected due to total anti-HBc reactivity (despite absence of HBsAg) were tested for anti-HBs and IgM anti-HBc antibodies, as well as for HBeAg/anti-HBe. Serum HBV DNA was sought by using a PCR assay able to amplify part of the surface gene. Viral load was measured in the PCR positive samples.
Results |
The pattern ’anti-HBc alone’ (without HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies) was found in 64 (42.7%) subjects. IgM anti-HBc and anti-HBe antibodies were detected in 2 (1.3%) and 80 (53.3%) samples, respectively. No sample was HBeAg-reactive. HBV DNA was repeatedly found in five (3.3%) samples, three of which were anti-HBs positive and two anti-HBs negative. All five HBV DNA positive samples showed a low viral load (<1000copies/ml).
Conclusions |
The data indicated a low rate of occult infection among anti-HBc positive, HBsAg negative blood donors living in a region of low prevalence of infection. Viral load was very low in all HBV infected subjects.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Keywords : Blood donors, Hepatitis B virus, HBV DNA, Serological markers, Viral load
Plan
Vol 51 - N° 1
P. 24-29 - juillet 2005 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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