Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) screening in blood banks reduced the risk of HBV transmission through transfusion. However, the detection of occult HBV infection among blood donors is imperative for improving blood safety. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of occult hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors in Medellin, North West Colombia and to characterize the viral genotypes and mutations.MethodsSerum samples from blood donors with the serological profile HBsAg-/Anti-HBc+ were evaluated by nested or hemi-nested PCR for HBV genome ORF C, ORF S and ORF X. A pairwise analysis was carried out with deduced amino acids sequence of overlapping S/P region.ResultsA total of 302 serum samples HBsAg-/Anti-HBc+ from donors recruited in a blood bank in Medellin were evaluated by PCR for the HBV genome. Six samples (1.98%) were identified as occult HBV infection. The cases were confirmed by sequencing and viral load analysis. All HBV strains were genotype F, subgenotype F3. The amino acid substitutions sY100H, sV184A, and sK141N were detected in ORF S and rtL108P, rtR110G, rtL180M, rtR192C, rtT150S, and rtL187V in ORF P.ConclusionsThis is the first report and characterization of OBI cases in blood donors in Colombia. Six from 302 donors HBsAg-/Anti-HBc+ were identified. The mutations rtL108P, rtR110G, rtR192C, rtT150S and rtI187V were characterized for the first time in these samples. Further studies are necessary to explore if these mutations could potentially impair HBsAg production.
Highlights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) screening in blood banks reduced the risk of HBV transmission through transfusion
Occult HBV infection (OBI) is recognized as a disease with important clinical implications, including the risk of HBV transmission by blood transfusion and organ transplantation and progression to cirrhosis and/or Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]
This study provides new information regarding the OBI in blood donors in Colombia and data of HBV strains molecular characterization circulating in the study population
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) screening in blood banks reduced the risk of HBV transmission through transfusion. In the last three decades a new type of HBV infection has been recognized, Occult HBV infection (OBI). This clinical entity is diagnoses by detection of the HBV genome (HBV-DNA) in liver tissue and/or serum samples, in the absence of detectable hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). OBI is recognized as a disease with important clinical implications, including the risk of HBV transmission by blood transfusion and organ transplantation and progression to cirrhosis and/or Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]. The hypotheses of OBI pathogenesis include mutations in viral genome, negative regulation of replication by epigenetic mechanisms and/or coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) [3]
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