Analysis of hepadnaviruse and non-hepatotropic virus infection in infants with biliary atresia

Abstract

Objective To explore the infection rate of hepadnaviruses and non-hepatotropic virus in infants with biliary atresia(BA) and their relationship between the onset and development of BA. Methods The data and pathogen test records from 184 BA infants who were hospitalized at Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014 were reviewed, and the infection rates caused by 3 hepadnaviruses including hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis E virus(HEV) as well as 5 non-hepatotropic viruses including cytomegalovirus(CMV), Epstein-Barr virus(EBV), herpes simplex virus(HSV), enterovirus(EV), Coxsackie-virus were analyzed.The outpatients or inpatients without BA and immunodeficiency were selected as controls. Results In BA patients, the infection rates of CMV were highest (40.21%, 39/97 cases) caused by 3 hepadnaviruses(HAV, HBV, HEV)and 5 non-hepatotropic viruses(CMV, EBV, HSV, EV, Cox), while the infection rates of HAV, HEV, HBV, EBV, HSV, EV or Coxsackievirus were all low, and mixed virus infection was found in 9 patients.The positive rate of CMV IgM in BA group[34.94%(29/83 cases)] was significantly higher than that in the control group[15.69%(8/51 cases)], and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=5.86, P 0.05). No statistical difference in age was found in BA patients on detection between the positive and the negative group, and the consistency of CMV DNA and CMV IgM was not ideal(Kappa value<0.4). Conclusions Infection of CMV is quite common in BA patients, BA infants under 60 days old show higher detection rate of CMV DNA than the older ones, but there is no difference in detection rate of CMV IgM among different ages, CMV is not supported as a secondary infection and may play a role in the occurrence and development of BA. Key words: Biliary atresia; Hepadnaviruse; Non-hepatotropic virus; Cytomegalovirus