Carriage rates of hepatitis B virus among individuals of different blood group systems and haemoglobin genotype

Abstract

The study was conducted between September 2012 and May 2013, to determine the frequency of hepatitis B virus carriage among apparently healthy individuals of different blood groups and haemoglobin genotypes. Nine hundred and eighty (980) students and staff comprising of males and females, aged 15-39 years, participated in the study. Five millilitres of blood sample was collected, 3 ml of which was put in a plain container for hepatitis B screening, while 2 ml was put into anti-coagulated container for blood group and haemoglobin electrophoresis. Using hepatitis B immunoassay strip (Global source, Shenyang LTH Tech, China), hepatitis status of each subject was determined; blood group was determined using tube agglutination method, while haemoglobin genotype was determined by electrophoresis method. The overall sero-prevalence recorded in this study was 6.94%. Assessing the infection rate with respect to age and blood group, 15-19 year bracket has the highest rate 18(1.86%) and it was recorded among blood group individuals. Statistical analysis by Chi Square showed no significant difference in the rate of hepatitis B carriage with respect to ABO blood grouping system (X 2 = 0.3412, P> 0.05). The distribution of viral carriage rate among the Rhesus D positive individuals was statistically higher than the rate in Rhesus D negative subjects (X 2 = 4.321, P 0.05). In conclusion, individuals with pathological genotypes (Hb – SS, Hb – SC, and Hb – CC) were hepatitis B sero-negative. Also, the study recorded a significant link between hepatitis B and Rhesus D blood group system. Further investigation is recommended using more sensitive techniques to corroborate the present findings. Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, carriage rates, blood group systems, genotypes