Abstract
This study was carried out to detect occult hepatitis B virus (OHB) among haemodylsis patient in Khartoum State, Sudan. Antigen capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), competitive ELISA to detect Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) antibodies and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were used to analyze 100 plasma samples collected from patients in 3 hospitals (El Amel Hospital, Bashair Hospital and Salma Hospital) during the period of 2012 to 2014. Out of the patient sampled, 65 were males and 35 were females (age 18 to 70 years) none of these patients showed signs of clinical hepatitis. The results showed that 9 out of the 100 samples were positive for HBsAg, and were subsequently excluded from the study. Out of the remaining HBsAg negative 91 samples, 38(51.6%) showed positive HBc antibodies and 3 (3.3%) tested positive to HBV DNA using competitive ELISA and PCR, respectively. These results indicated that molecular detection of occult HBV infections in haemodialysis patients in Sudan is of fundamental importance to prevent HBV transmission through contamination of heamodialysis machines. Key words: Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hemodialysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Sudan.
Highlights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a species of the genus Orthohepadnavirus, which belongs to the family of Hepadnaviridae virus (Hunt, 2007)
A total of 91 that were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
HBV DNA was detected in 3 (3.3%) samples that were positive for Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb), of which 2 (2.2%) were females and 1 (1.1%) was a male
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a species of the genus Orthohepadnavirus, which belongs to the family of Hepadnaviridae virus (Hunt, 2007). HBV is highly contagious, and is the most commonly transmitted blood borne virus in the health care setting. The virus can be transmitted directly through body fluids to mucous membranes, cutaneous scratches, abrasions, burns or other lesions (Mast et al, 1993). Indirect transmission can occur from surfaces contaminated with blood or body fluids to mucous membranes. HBV has been shown to survive in dried blood on surfaces at room temperature for at least a week (Mast et al, 1993)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
