PREVALENCE OF OCCULT HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG PATIENTS AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL, ABUJA

Abstract

Occult Hepatitis B infection (OBI) is believed to be a cause of post transfusion or transplantation
hepatitis. However, no studies exists on its prevalence in Abuja, Nigeria.
This study was designed to determine the OBI prevalence and seroprevalence of Hepatitis B
markers among adult patients attending the general outpatients department (GOPD) in National
hospital, Abuja.

180 adults, from the GOPD, with no known history of HBV disease were investigated for OBI.
A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic data and
history of risk factors in the subjects. HB surface antigen (HBsAg), HB early antigen (HBeAg),
antibody against HBsAg (Anti-HBs), antibody against HB core antigen (Anti-HBc) and antibody
against HB early antigen (Anti-HBe) were assayed using ELISA method. HBsAg negative
samples were considered potential OBI cases and subjected to real-time polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) for Hepatitis B virus DNA.
The HBsAg prevalence was 7.8% (14/180), while Anti-HBs was the most prevalent seromarker
at 26.7% (48/180). Anti-HBc, Anti-HBe and HbeAg were respectively detected in 15.0%
(27/180), 6.7% (12/180) and 1.7% (3/180) of the study population. HBV DNA was detected in
two of 166 HBsAg seronegative cases giving an OBI prevalence of 1.2% with a mean viral load
of <20 IU/ml.
The OBI prevalence in this study suggests that approximately 1:100 HBsAg negative samples
could act as a source of transmitting HBV if screened by that marker alone. This is significant
considering the number of hospital procedures that rely on this HBV screening test and the
highly infective nature of the HBV.
There is the need to deploy more sensitive and specific laboratory detection methods to reduce or
avoid transmission of the infection through HBsAg negative donors.

Keywords: Occult Hepatitis B infection, NHA, Abuja, HBsAg, HBeAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HBc,
Anti-HBe