Research Article

Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Low and Middle – Income Countries: Combined Serological Markers for Efficient Diagnosis

Japhet, M. O.1*, Adesina, O. O1, Olateru-Olugbegi, O.2, Adewumi, M. O.3
1 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
2 Department of Haematology, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
3 Department of Virology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: megdeoti@yahoo.com
Published: Jun, 2020
DOI: 10.67614/njm.2020.xvovzlig
Pages: 5053-5059

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global problem with Asia and sub-Saharan Africa mostly affected. Unfortunately, residual risk of transfusion associated HBV (TAHBV) is greater in low- and middle-income countries where virus prevalence is higher and implementation of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) and/or anti-HBc testing remain high-priced due to cost and loss of donors/blood products. There is therefore the need for cheaper and practical alternatives to reducing TAHBV. For this study, blood samples were collected from 273 consenting blood donors, aged 18-60 years. Five HBV serological markers: HBV surface and envelope antigens (HBsAg, HBeAg), and HBV core, surface and envelope antibodies (anti HBc,anti-HBs, HBeAb) were detected using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays. A high anti-HBs prevalence of 37.7% was detected among the donors while HBsAg prevalence was 5.1%, a rate lower than 8% value for high endemic regions to which Nigeria is classified. Among the donors HBcIgM prevalence was 4.8% (13/273), with twelve donors (4.4%; 12/13) having anti-HBc IgM as the only detectable marker of HBV infection. Anti-HBs presence of 200 mIU/mL or more has been reported safe as a transfusion component in anti-HBc-positive blood. A high anti-HBs observed among blood donors in this study could be explored in routine HBV screening of anti-HBc-positive blood donors. Including anti-HBs screening and anti-HBc IgM found as the only HBV infection marker in 12 (4.4%) donors could reduce TAHBV in Nigeria where HBV NAT screening is not affordable and discarding anti-HBc IgG-positive blood not feasible because blood transfusion is critical to treatment of diverse pathologies.

Keywords

Hepatitis B Virus Diagnosis blood transfusion serological markers Nigeria

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How to Cite

O., J. M., O, A. O., O., O., & O., A. M. (2020). Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Low and Middle – Income Countries: Combined Serological Markers for Efficient Diagnosis. Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, 34(1), 5053-5059. https://doi.org/10.67614/njm.2020.xvovzlig

J. M. O., A. O. O, O. O., and A. M. O., "Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Low and Middle – Income Countries: Combined Serological Markers for Efficient Diagnosis," Nigerian Journal of Microbiology, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 5053-5059, June 2020. doi: 10.67614/njm.2020.xvovzlig

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