Prevalence of HBc-Ab among HBs-Ag negative healthy blood donors in south of Iran

Authors

  • Ebrahim Khajeh General physician, Infectious and tropical diseases research center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences,BandarAbbas, Iran

Keywords:

Anti-HBc; HBsAg; Bandar Abbas; Blood donor

Abstract

Background: The risk of infection with transfusion-transmitted viruses, such as Hepatitis B virus (HBV), has been reduced markedly. However, a zero-risk blood supply remains a popular goal. Anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is considered to be an effective marker for occult HBV infection, and it has served a significant role in improving blood safety. The purpose of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HBc antibodies among blood donors.

Methods: During a period of six months in 2012, 1000 blood donors in Bandar Abbas were investigated for the presence of HBV infection markers. We used ELISA for the detection of HBsAg and chemiluminescence for the detection of HBsAb and anti-HBc antibodies.

Results: The prevalence of positive anti-HBc among the 1000 donors was 8.3%. Almost 2.3% of the donors were reactive for anti-HBc and negative for HBsAg.

Conclusions: The study showed that more than 2% of healthy blood donors in Bandar Abbas already have been exposed to HBV, although their HBsAg tests were negative. We suggest screening for anti-HBc to improve the safety of the blood supply.

References

Maynard JE. Hepatitis B: global importance and need for control. Vaccine. 1990;8(suppl):18–20. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Lavanchy D. Hepatitis B virus epidemiology, disease burden, treatment and current emerging prevention and control measures. J Viral Hepat. 2004;11:97–107. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Pungpapoong S, Kim WR, Poterucha JJ. Natural history of hepatitis B virus infection: an update for clinicians. Mayo Clinic Proceeding. 2007;82:967–975. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Abdel-Hamid M, Ezzat S, El-Kafrawy S, Abdel-Latif S, El-Daly M, Turner P, Widell A, Strickland GT, Ismail A, Loffredo C. Viral, genetics and environmental risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma in Egypt. Int J Virol. 2005;1:57–57. [Google Scholar]

Yuan H, Lee WM. Update of chronic hepatitis B. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011;27:217–223. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Franco E, Bagnato B, Marino MG, Meleleo C, Serino L, Zaratti L. Hepatitis B: Epidemiology and prevention in developing countries. World J Hepatol. 2012;27:74–80. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Ott JJ, Stevens GA, Groeger J, Wiersma ST. Global epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection: new estimates of age-specific HBsAg seroprevalence and endemicity. Vaccine. 2012;9:2212–2219. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Nelson PK, Mathers BM, Cowie B, Hagan H, Des Jarlais D, Horyniak D, Degenhardt L. Global epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in people who inject drugs: results of systematic reviews. Lancet. 2011;378:571–583. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Dickson RC, Everhart JE, Lake JR. Transmission of hepatitis B by transplantation of liver donors positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. Gastroenterology. 1997;113:1668–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Bréchot C, Thiers V, Kremsdorf D. Persistent hepatitis B virus infection in subjects without hepatitis B surface antigen: clinically significant or purely “occult”? Hepatology. 2001;34:194–203. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Kwon SY, Lee CH. Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis B virus infection. Korean J Hepatol. 2011;17(2):87–95. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Candotti D, Allain JP. Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2009;51(4):798–809. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Alavian SM, Hajariazdeh B, AhmadzadAsl M, Kabir A, Bagheri Lankarani K. Hepatitis B virus infection in Iran: a systematic review. Hepat Mon. 2008;8:281–294. [Google Scholar]

Hennig H, Puchta I, Luhm J, Luhm J, Schlenke P, Goerg S, Kirchner H. Frequency and load of hepatitis B virus DNA in first-time blood donors with antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen. Blood. 2002;100:2637–41. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Muhlbacher A, Zdunek D, Melchior W, Michl U. Is infective blood donation missed out without screening for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and/or hepatitis B virus DNA. Vox Sang. 2001;81:139. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Vyas GN. Significance of HBV DNA in HBsAg negative individuals: a critical commentary. In: Sarin SK, Hess G, editors. Transfusion associated hepatitis Diagnosis, treatment and prevention. New Delhi: CBS Publishers; 1998. pp. 49–56. [Google Scholar]

Chaudhuri V, Nanu A, Panda SK, Chand P. Evaluation of serologic screening for blood donors in India reveals a lack of correlation between anti-HBC titre and PCR amplified HBV DNA. Transfusion. 2006;43(10):1442–1448. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Geraldine K, Adel A, Intesar A, Jameel N, Said HA. Evidence of occult Hepatitis B Virus infection among Omani Blood Donors: A preliminary study. Medical Principle and Practice. 2003;15:368–372. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Kumar H, Gupta PK, Jaiprakash MBrig. The role of anti-HBc IgM in Screening of Blood Donors. MJAFI. 2007;63:350–352. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Hoofnagle JH, Seef LB, Bales ZB, Zimmerman HJ. Type B hepatitis after transfusion with blood containing antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. N Engl J Med. 1978;298:1379–83. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Douglas DD, Taswell HF, Rakela J, Rabe D. Absence of hepatitis B DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction in blood donors who are hepatitis B surface antigen negative and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen positive from a United States population with a low prevalence of hepatitis B serologic markers. Transfusion. 1993;33:212–6. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Stevens CE, Aach RD, Hollinger FB, Mosley JW, Szmuness W, Kahn R, Werch J, Edwards V. Hepatitis B virus antibody in blood donors and the occurrence of non-A, non-B hepatitis in transfusion recipients. An analysis of Transfusion Transmitted Virus Study. Ann Intern Med. 1984;101:733–8. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Mosley JW, Stevens CE, Aach RD, Hollinger FB, Mimms LT, Solomon LR, Barbosa LH, Nemo GJ. Donor screening for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and hepatitis B virus infection in transfusion recipients. Transfusion. 1995;35:5–12. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Allain JP. Occult hepatitis B virus infection: implications in transfusion. Vox Sang. 2004;86:83–91. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Published

2021-12-18