Hepatitis B Virus Co-infection Research Articles

A dynamical optimal control theory and cost-effectiveness analyses of the HBV and HIV/AIDS co-infection model

Studies have shown that the co-infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) poses a major threat to the public health due to their combined negative impacts on health and increased risk of complications. Even though, some scholars formulated and analyzed the HBV and HIV co-infection model they did not consider the compartment that contains protected individuals against both HBV and HIV infections. They incorporated the optimal control theory and cost-effectiveness analysis simultaneously. With this in mind, we are motivated to formulate and analyze the HBV and HIV co-infection model, considering the protected group and incorporating optimal control theory and cost-effectiveness. In this study, we have theoretically computed all of the models disease-free equilibrium points, all the models effective reproduction numbers and unique endemic equilibrium points. The two sub-models disease-free equilibrium points are locally as well as globally asymptotically stable whenever their associated effective reproduction numbers are less than one. We reformulated the optimal control problem by incorporating five time-dependent control measures and conducted its theoretical analysis by utilizing the Pontryagin's maximum principle. Using the fourth order Runge–Kutta numerical method and MATLAB ODE45, we performed the numerical simulations with various combinations of control efforts to verify the theoretical results and investigate the impacts of the suggested protection and treatment control strategies for both the HBV and HIV diseases. Also, we carried out a cost-effectiveness analysis of the proposed control strategies. Eventually, we compared our model results with other researcher similar model results whenever cost-effectiveness analysis is not carried out the findings of this particular study suggest that implementing each of the proposed control strategies simultaneously has a high potential to reduce and control the spread of HBV and HIV co-infections in the community. According to the cost-effectiveness analysis, implementing the HBV treatment and the HIV and HBV co-infection treatment measures has a high potential effect on reducing and controlling the HBV and HIV co-infection transmission problem in the community.

The expression of sICAM-1 influenced by Clonorchis sinensis co-infection in CHB patients.

Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1) has emerged as an inflammatory biomarker of many essential functions. We investigated the level of sICAM-1 influenced by Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) co-infection in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients to explore the degree of liver tissue inflammation and liver function damage after co-infection. The study included data from patients with C. sinensis mono-infection (n=27), hepatitis B virus (HBV) mono-infection (n=32), C. sinensis and HBV co-infection (n=24), post-hepatitis B liver cirrhosis (n=18), post-hepatitis B liver cirrhosis co-infected with C. sinensis (n=16), and healthy controls (n=39). The level of sICAM-1 was measured with specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Compared to the healthy control group, all the experimental groups had significantly higher serum sICAM-1 levels. The levels of sICAM-1 in co-infected groups were significantly higher compared to the mono-infection groups and were positively correlated with the levels of glutamate aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Our research findings confirmed that co-infection could exacerbate liver tissue inflammation and liver function damage in patients, could raise the sICAM-1 level, and may lead to the chronicity of HBV infection. These results provide clues for pathological mechanism study and formulating treatment plans.

Seropositivity and coinfection of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in Central India: A hospital-based study

ABSTRACT Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) show similarity in the transmission, distribution, hepatotropism, and leading to chronic asymptomatic infection. Coinfection of HBV and HCV can lead to more severe liver disease and an increased risk for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Most of the people with chronic infection are unaware of their HBV and HCV infections, hence facilitating these to go undiagnosed until these viruses have caused serious liver damage and they act as a potential source of infection for the community at large. Therefore, the present study aimed to find the prevalence of HBV and HCV along with incidences of coinfection of HBV and HCV in patients seeking hospital care in central India. Methods: A five-year hospital-based study was carried out at the tertiary care hospital in Central India from 2018 to 2022. A total of 72402 patients attending the outdoor patients and admitted indoor patients who were advised for HBV and HCV for screening before any invasive/surgical procedure and patients who presented with symptoms of acute or chronic liver disease were included in this study. Screening was done by immunochromatography-based card test followed by the confirmation of all samples by enzyme immunoassay. Results: Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV was found to be 3.71% and 1.91%, respectively. Coinfection with HBV/HCV was seen in 0.13% of the individuals. The overall prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HBV-HCV coinfection was significantly higher in the male population as compared to females. Conclusion: The study findings of seroprevalence of HBV and HCV among the hospital-based population will help to get a baseline understanding of the disease burden in central India. The HBV/HCV coinfection rate also raises serious concerns owing to its high prevalence rate among the younger age.

Stochastic modeling and analysis of Hepatitis and Tuberculosis co-infection dynamics

Abstract Several mathematical models have been developed to investigate the dynamics of Tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Numerous current models for TB, HBV, and their co-dynamics fall short in capturing the important and practical aspect of unpredictability. It is crucial to take into account a stochastic co-infection HBV–TB epidemic model since different random elements have a substantial impact on the overall dynamics of these diseases. We provide a novel stochastic co-model for TB and HBV in this study, and we establish criteria on the uniqueness and existence of a non-negative global solution. We also looked at the persistence of the infections as long its dynamics are governable by the proposed model. To verify the theoretical conclusions, numerical simulations are presented keeping in view the associated analytical results. The infections are found to finally die out and go extinct with certainty when Lévy intensities surpass the specified thresholds and the related stochastic thresholds fall below unity. The findings also demonstrate the impact of noise on the decline in the co-circulation of HBV and TB in a given population. Our results provide insights into effective intervention strategies, ultimately aiming to improve the management and control of TB and HBV co-infections.

Hepatitis B prevalence and risk factors among adults living with HIV in South Africa: a clinic-based cohort study

BackgroundPeople living with HIV (PLHIV) may have concurrent Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, and certain antiretroviral therapies are recommended for HBV-HIV co-infected individuals. Routine screening for Hepatitis B virus may influence management of antiretroviral therapy for PLHIV, but risk factors for co-infection have not been well defined. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for HBV infection among PLHIV in South Africa.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective, clinic-based cohort study of adults seeking HIV testing from 2013–2017 in Umlazi township, South Africa. Patients newly diagnosed with HIV were enrolled and subsequently tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HBsAg +). We used a Poisson linear regression model to assess which factors, pertaining to sociodemographic status, medical history, clinical symptoms, mental health were associated with HBV.ResultsAmong 3,105 PLHIV participants in South Africa, 6% were positive for HBV. Males had a higher HBV prevalence (10.4%) than females (5.2%). Within the HBV-positive group, the mean age was 33.2 years, with 38.3% females and 43.9% having completed high school or higher. About 39.9% reported alcohol use, 24.7% had a smoking history, and 8.3% reported substance use in the past year. Older participants born before 1995, when routine infant HBV vaccination was introduced, were more likely to have HBV. In multivariable analyses, smoking history increased HBV risk in females (aPR = 2.58; 95% CI 1.47–2.52), while alcohol use decreased HBV risk in males (aPR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.19–0.70).ConclusionsIn a South African cohort, roughly one in 16 PLHIV had HBV co-infection, and this rate was higher in males. The most prominent risk factors for HBV infection in PLHIV were alcohol use, higher income, and smoking history, which may help inform targeted treatment and prevention strategies. Creating HBV-specific screening and prevention strategies for PLHIV may be useful for reducing HBV infections.

Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver Single Topic Conference on Hepatitis B Virus: ‘Progress toward hepatitis B elimination in Canada’

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects >290 million people worldwide, including ∼250,000 Canadians, and it stands as a leading cause of end-stage liver disease and liver cancer. The World Health Assembly has set goals for HBV elimination by 2030, aiming for a >90% reduction in incidence and a 65% reduction in deaths compared to 2015. However, as of 2023, no countries were on track to achieve these targets. In Canada, challenges in HBV elimination persist due to the lack of a universal birth dose vaccine and interprovincial disparities in screening and care linkage. The Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver (CASL) and the Canadian Hepatitis B Network hosted the Inaugural Progress toward Hepatitis B Elimination Meeting in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (September 29, 2023 to October 1, 2023). This collaborative platform brought together national and international clinicians, laboratory providers, public health researchers, policymakers, and community-based organizations interested in HBV and hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) / HBV coinfection. The workshop was held during the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30, 2023) to commemorate the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada, and it highlighted the need to promote meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Key outcomes of the summit included establishing objectives for HBV elimination, advocating for adherence to global targets, universal screening and birth dose vaccination, equitable access to antiviral treatment across all provinces/territories, and addressing special populations. This overview highlights the presentations and emphasizes the importance of collaboration among stakeholders, public health agencies, and government entities to strive for HBV elimination in Canada.

Hypokalemic paralysis and proximal renal tubular acidosis secondary to tenofovir-induced Fanconi syndrome: A contributing cause of death

Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs, primarily cidofovir and adefovir, less likely tenofovir) pose a well-known risk of nephrotoxicity. Acute renal failure, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), and Fanconi syndrome (FS) are the primarily reported renal adverse effects associated with NRTIs. In this report, we describe a case of a 52-year-old female who presented to the outpatient department of a tertiary-care facility with polyuria, polydipsia, convulsions, myalgias, and hypokalemic paralysis (quadriparesis) after 10 months exposure to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), which she was taking for HIV and Hepatitis-B virus coinfection. The patient developed hypokalemic paralysis and proximal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA) with normal anion gap hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. On evaluation, renal tubulopathy was evident, which was resolved post-TDF discontinuation and therapeutic corrections. A diagnosis of TDF-induced FS, pRTA, and NDI were considered, as there were no clear alternative explanations. This report also highlights the characteristics of TDF-induced FS from the published case reports in the Indian context.

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection among treatment-naive persons living with HIV in Ghana.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) constitutes a significant global health challenge, with more than 2 billion people infected globally and almost 291 million chronic cases. In Africa, coinfection of HBV with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is high, yet the condition remains overlooked in many countries. While antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved HIV survival, viral hepatitis continues to contribute to morbidity and mortality. Occult Hepatitis B infection (OBI), characterized by a low-level of HBV DNA in individuals with negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), is an emerging concern among HIV seropositive individuals due to the risk of HBV reactivation and associated complications, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Ghana has an estimated HBV/HIV coinfection prevalence of 13.6% making it important to also determine potential cases of OBI. This study aims to assess OBI prevalence in persons living with HIV (PLHIV). A cross-sectional study was conducted in five health facilities in the Cape Coast Metropolis. HBV-related serological markers were determined among 116 PLHIV using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. HBV DNA was extracted from 30 participants found to be HBsAg negative but positive for hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb+). Nested PCR was employed in detecting HBV DNA and HBV viral load was performed using qPCR. The median age of the participants was 37 years (IQR 22-65). Serologically, 7.8% (n = 9, 95% CI: 3.5-22.7), 12.1% (n = 14), and 25.9% (n = 30) tested positive for solely HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBcAb respectively. OBI prevalence among HBsAg-/HBcAb+ participants was 16.7% (n = 5, 95% CI: 6.5-23.7) with a median HBV DNA level of 139.2 IU/ml (IQR, 96.7-142.0). The prevalence of OBI among HIV-positive participants in the Cape Coast Metropolis highlights the need to consider screening for HBV among HIV patients using nucleic acid amplification tests. This can inform medical management and reduce the risk of liver complications, including HCC.

Prevalence of HBsAg among Moroccan HIV-1 infected patients and APOBEC3G variant frequencies in HIV-1/HBV co-infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes higher rates of liver disease compared to infection with just one virus. Co-infection can accelerate the progression to liver fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma and disturb the treatment response. APOBEC3G is a host defense factor which interferes with HIV-1 and HBV. We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among HIV-infected patients and seronegative controls, and screen the HIV/HBV population for APOBEC3G variants rs8177832, rs35228531 and rs2294367, previously associated with HIV-1 infection susceptibility in Morocco. A case control study was conducted on 404 individuals (204 HIV-infected and 200 eligible blood donors) from April to November 2021. HBsAg was measured on the Roche Cobas e411 automatic analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Basel, Switzerland) and APOBEC3G polymorphisms were identified using the TaqMan genotyping allelic discrimination method. Fisher Exact test, odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), and haplotype frequencies were calculated. Of the 204 HIV-1 seropositive patients and 200 controls, 4.9% (95%CI: 2.38-8.83) and 2.50% (95% CI: 0.82-5.74) were HBsAg-positive respectively. There was a significant association between increasing age (> 40 years) and HBV infection among controls (p = 0.04). The distribution of genotypes and alleles frequencies of APOBEC3G variants was heterogenous and five different haplotypes with frequencies ≥ 5% were obtained, of which ACC (rs8177832, rs35228531, rs2294367) was the most prevalent. HBV co-infection is common among HIV-1 infected individuals in Morocco. Efforts should be made to prevent, treat and control HBV transmission in this population.

A new co-infection model for HBV and HIV with vaccination and asymptomatic transmission using actual data from Taiwan

The co-infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a major threat to public health due to their combined negative impacts on health and increased risk of complications. A novel fractional mathematical model of the dynamics of co-infection between HBV and HIV for Taiwan is presented in this paper. Detailed analyses are conducted on the possible impact of HBV vaccination on the dynamics of HBV and HIV co-infection. The next-generation matrix technique is used to calculate the fundamental reproduction number R 0 = max{R 1, R 2}, where R 1 and R 2 are the reproduction numbers for HBV and HIV, respectively. The disease-free and endemic equilibria of the co-infection model are calculated. An extensive investigation is carried out to determine the local and global stability of the disease-free equilibrium point through Rough Hurtwiz criteria and the construction of Lyapunov function, respectively. We demonstrate that when R 1 < 1 < R 2, HBV infection is eradicated, but HIV remains prevalent. If R 2 < 1 < R 1, the opposite outcome occurs. The real data from 2000-2023 for Taiwan is used to fit the model. The fitting results show how effectively our model handles the data. In addition, numerical simulations are run for different scenarios to observe how the vaccine and fractional parameters changed the model state variables, as well as how the solutions behaved and how quickly they reached the model’s equilibrium points. According to the model’s numerical analysis, greater vaccination efforts against HBV have a positive effect on the propagation of co-infection.

Prevalence of HBV Co-infections with HCV and HIV among Blood Donors in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Blood is a life-saving resource. Despite the significance of blood transfusion in saving a millions life in emergencies and medical treatment, the safety of blood transfusion faced challenges of transmitting life threatening transfusion transmissible infectious agents such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The study was carried out to determine the sero-prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV and co-infections among blood donors in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. A total of five hundred (500) prospective blood donors age ranged from 18 to 60 years attending Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital between May to November, 2019 were recruited for the study. Prospective study was based on questionnaires administered to generate socio-demographics and a 5ml venous blood samples were obtained from each blood donors and the plasma was used for determination of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV using immunoassay rapid test kit (RTK) Diaspot, Belgium and HIV-1 and HIV-2 Determine Alere Medical ,Japan and further tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Biorad Monolisa, France). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV were 4.8%, 1.2% and 1.8% respectively, while co-infections with HBV/ HIV and HBV/HCV were 0.2% and 0.2% respectively and there was no case of triple infections among the blood donors. The incidence rate was high in HBV followed by HIV and HCV. The use of RTK and ELISA for screening of blood donor for HBsAg, anti HCV and HIV in terms of their sensitively and specificity showed that ELISA is more sensitive than RTK while RTK is more specific than ELISA. From the retrospective study age and gender distribution was not statistically significant (P &gt; 0.05). A significance difference was observed between married blood donors and HIV infection (P &lt; 0.05) and also blood donors with history of blood transfusion showed statistical significant to HBV and HCV (P &lt; 0.05). The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infections among blood donors were found to be statistically associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, surgical operation, multiple sex partners and tattooing (P &lt; 0.05). This study shows that the prevalence of HBV infection in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State ,Nigeria was higher than HCV and HIV, hence there is need to increase public awareness of the socio-cultural practices that contribute to the transmission of infection.

Seroprevalence and co-infection of HBV, HCV, and HIV among patients visiting selected hospitals in Anyigba, Kogi State

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remain a public health challenge globally. This study determined the prevalence and coinfection of HBV, HCV, and HIV among patients visiting Maria Goretti Hospital, Grimard Catholic Hospital, and Good News Hospital Anyigba, Kogi State. In a cross-sectional study, sera samples collected from 400 consenting patients were screened for HBV, HCV, and HIV using commercial immunodiagnostic test kits. Of the 400 subjects, 12 (3.0%), 4 (1.0%), and 16 (4.0%) were infected with HBV, HCV, and HIV, respectively. One participant was co-infected with HCV and HIV, while none was simultaneously infected with HBV and HIV. Participants aged 11–20 years had higher hepatitis B-surface antigenemia, while ages 21–30 years and 31–40 years had higher prevalence of HCV and HIV, respectively. Contrary to HBV and HCV positivity, HIV seropositivity was significantly predicted by the ages of exposure (p = 0.002). Males and females were equally infected with HBV (3.0% each), while more males than females were infected with HCV (1.5%) and HIV (4.6%). However, the difference between the occurrence of viral infections and patients’ sex was not significant (p > 0.05). The single participants were more predisposed to HBV while the married subjects had more HCV and HIV mono-infection. However, neither the occurrence of HBV nor HCV or HIV was significantly predicted by the marital status of the individuals (p > 0.05). Subjects with no formal education had a higher positivity rate of HCV and HIV compared to other levels of education, while the tertiary level of education had higher exposure to HBsAg. Occupationally, students were more predisposed to HBV and HCV, while the unemployed participants were more predisposed to HIV. However, neither education nor the occupation of participants was significantly related to any of the viral infections (p > 0.05). Lack of knowledge of disease prevention significantly influenced the occurrence of HBV (p = 0.02), HCV (p = 0.04), and HIV (p = 0.04). Conclusively, the status of HBV, HCV, and HIV infection is low compared with findings of previous epidemiological studies in the area. However, the continuous circulation of the three viral infections and the high disease occurrence in the poorly informed participants suggest the need for increased public health education about infection control and prevention strategies in the area.

Prospective study of hepatitis B and D epidemiology and risk factors in Romania: A 10-year update.

The global burden of hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection represents a major medical challenge and a public health crisis worldwide. However, there is a lack of accurate data on the epidemiology and risk factors for HDV. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HDV coinfection causes the most severe form of viral hepatitis, leading to a higher cumulative incidence of liver-related events compared with HBV monoinfection, including the need for liver transplantation and death. To investigate the epidemiology, natural history, risk factors and clinical management of HBV and HDV coinfection in Romanian patients. This prospective study was conducted between January and July 2022 in six tertiary gastroenterology and hepatology referral centres in Romania. All consecutive adults admitted for any gastroenterology diagnosis who were HBV-positive were enrolled. Patients with acute hepatitis or incomplete data were excluded. Of the 25390 individuals who presented with any type of gastroenterology diagnosis during the study period, 963 met the inclusion criteria. Testing for anti-HDV antibodies and HDV RNA was performed for all participants. Demographic and risk factor data were collected by investigators using medical charts and patient questionnaires. All data were stored in an anonymized online database during the study. The prevalence of HBV was 3.8%; among these patients, the prevalence of HBV/HDV coinfection was 33.1%. The median age of the study population was 54.0 years, and it consisted of 55.1% men. A higher prevalence of HBV/HDV coinfection was observed in patients 50-69 years old. Patients with HBV/HDV coinfection were significantly older than those with HBV monoinfection (P = 0.03). Multivariate multiple regression analysis identified female gender (P = 0.0006), imprisonment (P < 0.0001), older age at diagnosis (P = 0.01) and sexual contact with persons with known viral hepatitis (P = 0.0003) as significant risk factors for HDV. This study shows that HDV infection among those with HBV remains endemic in Romania and updates our understanding of HDV epidemiology and associated risk factors. It emphasizes the need for systematic screening for HDV infection and collaborative initiatives for controlling and preventing HBV and HDV infection.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Their Associated Factors Among Military Personnel at Military Camps in Central Gondar, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Globally, viral hepatitis is a leading cause of death and is highly prevalent in Ethiopia. Military personnel are more vulnerable to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and there are no data on such populations in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections and their associated factors among military personnel in military camps in Central Gondar, Ethiopia. This institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 277 military personnel from April to August 2022 at military camps in Central Gondar, Ethiopia. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Sociodemographic and other relevant data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Five milliliters of venous blood were collected using a vacutainer tube and tested for hepatitis B surface antigens and anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14 software and logistic regression models were used to determine the association between HBV/HCV infection and risk factors. Out of 277 participants, the overall seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infections was 19 (6.9%) and 9 (3.3%), respectively. The rate of HBV and HCV co-infection was 2 (0.7%). Having multiple sexual partners (p = 0.048), frequent alcohol use (p = 0.034), hospitalization (p = 0.014), and history of receiving injections from traditional practitioners (p = 0.040) were significant predictors of HBV infection. In contrast, a history of blood transfusion (p = 0.048) and sexually transmitted infections (p = 0.039) were significant risk factors for HCV infection. An intermediate prevalence of HBV and HCV infections was observed among the military personnel. Continuous screening, adherence to healthcare service guidelines, and strengthening of vaccination are crucial for preventing HBV and HCV infections.

Co-infections of malaria and hepatitis B among pregnant women in Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State, Nigeria

Acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) and malaria infections pose serious health risks to the general population and may worsen victims' physical and financial well-being. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of HBV and malaria co-infections during LGA among expectant mothers. This study used a cross-sectional, prospective design. Blood samples were collected from both pregnant and non-pregnant women for parasitological and serological examinations in the study area. This was performed to compare the severity of infections between pregnant and non- pregnant women, as pregnant women are more susceptible to infections. The study included 50 women who attended antenatal care at the time of this project and 10 non-pregnant women who came to the hospitals for check-ups. Samples of people aged 18 to 52 years were collected. Age groups of 18-28 and 40-50 years had the greatest 30(50%) and lowest 8(13%) populations of women screened for malaria and hepatitis B co-infection, respectively. The 1st and 3rd trimesters were followed by the 2nd trimester, which had the highest prevalence. Only the second trimester had a 2% prevalence rate of hepatitis B. Farmers were the group most likely to contract malaria (92%). The percentage of government employees who had malaria and hepatitis B was the highest 20%), followed by traders (5%). Ogrute, the seat of the Local Government had a high rate of malaria infection despite having several medical facilities and less farming activities. Olido (25%), followed by Ogrute (14 point 3%), had the highest rate of co-infection with hepatitis B and malaria. The PCV ranges of 25–27(100%) and 28–30(100%) had the highest prevalence of malaria. This study shows how persistent malaria and hepatitis B are also associated with decreased packed cell volume (PCV) in pregnant women.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of HBV, HCV and HIV among hemodialysis patients: a multicenter cross-sectional study from Damascus Syria

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to determine the prevalence rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among hemodialysis (HD) patients as well as to identify associated risk factors.MethodologyA multicenter cross-sectional study involved patients who had been on HD for at least three months. The study was conducted at five HD centers in Damascus, Syria from August 2019 to September 2021. HBsAg, HCV-Ab and HIV (antibody/antigen) seropositivity were identified using the third generation ELISA technique. Patients’ information was extracted from their records and by face-to-face interview. Multiple logistic regression models were applied to identify risk factors associated with HBV or HCV seropositivity. The significance level was set at 5%.ResultsA total of 637 patients were included in the study with a mean age (SD) of 50.5 (15.6) years and 56.7% of them were men. The dialytic age ranged from one to thirty years with a mean (SD) of 6.10 (5.6) years. The prevalence of positive hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HCV, co-infection of HBV and HCV, and anti-HIV (antibody/antigen) were 3.2%, 22.1%, 0.7%, and 0%, respectively. After controlling for co-variables, hepatitis B vaccine was the only predictor of seropositivity of HBV (OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.057–0.393, P < 0.001), as it significantly protected against contracting HBV. On the other hand, the dialytic age (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.94, P = 0.032) and the dialysis center were significant factors affecting the prevalence of HCV.ConclusionsThe prevalence of HCV and HBV infections among HD patients in Damascus, Syria has decreased remarkably compared with the results from 2001. Nevertheless, it is still considered relatively high. Thus, there is an urgent need to strengthen the prevention and control measures for viral infection transmission in HD centers in Damascus.

Characteristics of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Syphilis Coinfection in People With HIV/AIDS Contracted Through Different Sources: Retrospective Study.

The burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis coinfections remains disproportionately high among people living with HIV/AIDS. Hubei province is located in central China, where there are distinct regional characteristics of the distribution of people living with HIV/AIDS acquired via diverse transmission routes and the AIDS epidemic itself. We aimed to estimate the magnitude of HBV, HCV, or syphilis coinfections among people living with HIV/AIDS with blood-borne transmission, which includes former paid blood donors, contaminated blood recipients, and intravenous drug users, as well as among people with sex-borne HIV transmission (including heterosexual people and men who have sex with men) and people with mother-to-child HIV transmission. From January 2010 to December 2020, people living with HIV/AIDS were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HCV antibodies, and syphilis-specific antibodies. The positive patients were further tested for HBV markers, HBV DNA, and HCV RNA, and received a rapid plasma reagin circle card test. All people living with HIV/AIDS were first divided into transmission groups (blood, sex, and mother-to-child); then, people with blood-borne HIV transmission were divided into former paid blood donors, contaminated blood recipients, and intravenous drug users, while people with sex-borne HIV transmission were divided into heterosexual people and men who have sex with men. Among 6623 people living with HIV/AIDS, rates of chronic HCV infection were 80.3% (590/735) in former paid blood donors, 73.3% (247/337) in intravenous drug users, 57.1% (444/777) in contaminated blood recipients, 19.4% (21/108) in people with mother-to-child HIV transmission, 8.1% (240/2975) in heterosexual people, and 1.2% (21/1691) in men who have sex with men. Chronic HBV infection rates were similar among all people with blood-borne HIV transmission. However, compared to heterosexual people, the chronic HBV infection rate was greater in men who have sex with men (213/1691, 12.6% vs 308/2975, 10.4%; χ21=5.469; P=.02), although HBV exposure was less common (827/1691, 48.9% vs 1662/2975, 55.9%; χ21=20.982; P<.001). Interestingly, the combination of HBsAg and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was found in 11 patients with sex-borne HIV transmission, but in 0 people with blood-borne HIV transmission (11/196, 5.6% vs 0/521, 0%; χ21=29.695, P<.001). In people with sex-borne HIV transmission, the proportions of patients with a syphilis titer ≥1:16 and neurosyphilis were 8.6% (105/1227) and 7.8% (37/473), respectively, whereas these values were 0 in people with blood-borne HIV transmission. In people living with HIV/AIDS, HCV transmission intensity was significantly associated with specific exposure modes of blood or sexual contact. The rate of chronic HBV infection among men who have sex with men was higher than in any other population. Attention should be paid to the high prevalence of neurosyphilis in people living with HIV/AIDS who contract HIV by sexual intercourse.

Severity and Mortality in Covid-19 With Hepatitis B Co-Infection A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigate the severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients coinfected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Utilizing established databases and adhering to PRISMA guidelines, 15 studies were included after a rigorous selection and data extraction process, with quality assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager (RevMan) software. The findings indicate a significantly higher risk of severe clinical outcomes and mortality in COVID-19 patients with HBV co-infection compared to those without HBV. Among patients with both HBV and COVID-19, 30.2% developed severe clinical outcomes, compared to 19.5% in COVID-19 patients without HBV. Mortality rates were also higher in the co-infected group (4.9%) compared to those with only COVID-19 (3.4%). The study notes considerable heterogeneity among the included studies, as indicated by high I2 values. These results align with previous findings on the impact of chronic liver diseases on COVID-19 outcomes but contrast with some studies suggesting a potential protective effect of HBV. The analysis also considers the complexities of managing COVID-19 in HBV patients, particularly the risks associated with corticosteroid therapy and HBV reactivation, while acknowledging limitations such as variability in methodologies and potential publication biases. The study underscores the heightened severity and mortality risks for COVID-19 patients with HBV co-infection, emphasizing the need for tailored management strategies and further research into the mechanisms and optimal treatment protocols for this patient population.

Hepatitis B virus coinfection in patients treated for chronic hepatitis C: clinical characteristics, risk of reactivation with long-term follow-up, and effectiveness of antiviral therapy.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share a similar transmission route, which increases coinfection odds and worsens clinical outcomes. Our aim was to investigate coinfected patients undergoing HCV treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to understand their characteristics, risk of HBV reactivation, and effectiveness of the therapy. Our study comprehensively analyzed 1118 patients with chronic HCV infection, divided into 3 subgroups based on their HBV status. We documented that 0.7% of the analyzed population was positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), while 14.3% had evidence of a past HBV infection. The patients without HBV coinfection were less burdened with comorbidities, and were mostly treatment-naive, while the individuals suffering from coinfection were younger and more likely to have a history of a previous therapy. Infection with HCV genotype 3 was more common among the HBsAg-positive patients than in the other studied groups. Response to DAA therapy was comparable between the groups, and most patients completed the course of treatment as planned. Only 3 cases of HBV reactivation were observed, all of which achieved sustained virologic response after DAA therapy. Two were women on immunosuppressants with antihepatitis B core positive antibodies, and the third patient was an HBsAgpositive man. These patients remained in long-term follow-up. Neither the presence of HBV markers nor HBV reactivation during DAA treatment reduced effectiveness of the therapy. Our findings are important for future recommendations and guidelines on managing HBV/HCV coinfection.

Seroepidemiology of Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum CoInfections with Hepatitis B And C Virus among Blood Donors in Modakeke Area Office, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Despite the remarkable achievements in the reduction of malaria mortality, the disease had remained the most common cause of morbidity and mortality. Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) might associate with increased mortality rate as the infections may predisposes to the development of serious liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to determine the Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum co-infections with hepatitis B and C viruses among blood donors in Modakeke Area Office, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The study was conducted in Modakeke Area Office, Ile Ife, Osun State. The study was conducted in Modakeke health facility, Ile Ife, Osun State. Five (5) ml of venous blood was obtained from each of 400 blood donors into plain bottles and labeled accordingly. Thick and thin films of the donor’s blood samples were made on slides dried for five minutes at 37°C then stained using Giemsa stain. The slides were then examined microscopically for presence and densities of malaria parasites. Species identification and determination of the Hematological parameters were also conducted on the slides. Sera were separated from the remaining aliquots of the blood and screened for hepatitis-B and C surface antigens (HBsAg and anti-HCV). The overall mean parasitaemia of malarious blood donors was 786.20µl/blood while that of blood donors with hepatitis virus infection was 53 representing 13.3% of the total donor examined. Donors infected with HBV, HCV and co-infection of HBV and HCV had viraemia of 25 (6.3%), 21 (5.3%) and 7(1.8%) respectively. Among the age groups, high prevalence of Hepatitis viral infection rate of 57.9% was recorded among aged group 18-26 years. The infection rate of 15.8%, 13.6% and 10.5% of HBV, HCV was recorded from age group 18-26years respectively. The highest co-infection rate of HBV and HCV of 18.8% was recorded from age group 54-62years, while high mean malaria parasitaemia of 1,882.78 (µl of blood) was also recorded among donors aged 18-26 years. High hepatitis viral infection rate of 22.2% with 16.7% of HCV were recorded among females, while 6.3% of HBV and 1.9% of co-infection was observed among males and the mean malaria parasitaemia of 2,382.80 µl of blood was observed among females. High prevalence of Hepatitis infection rate of 17.1%, 8.6% of HCV, (6.3%) of HBV and 2.3% of co-infection were recorded among single donors. The mean malaria parasitaemia of 786.89 (µl of blood) was observed among married donors, there was significant difference between marital status and hepatitis infection (p= 0.0043) and between HCV (p=0.009). High prevalence of hepatitis viraemia of 21.4% and co-infection 5.6% was recorded among artisans, while 14.6% HBV infection rate was recorded among civil servants and 14.3% of HCV was recorded among donors who are farmers. The mean malaria parasitaemia of 1,150.15 µl/blood was recorded among donors who are traders. Donors that have acquired primary education have high prevalence of hepatitis infection rate of 38.5%, with 15.4% of HBV and (23.1%) co-infection (HBVand HCV). HCV (6.7%) was high among donors with secondary education; high mean malaria parasitaemia of 2,096.84 µl of blood was recorded among donors with primary education. Blood B+ve had high hepatitis viral infection rate of 21.7%, HCV 13.0% and co-infection of 5.8% while 7.8% of HBV was recorded among O+ve donors. The mean malaria parasitaemia of 1,378.50 (µl of blood) was recorded among B-ve donors. The total mean PCV in the study was 42.63, White blood cell count was 5,281.25, lymphocytes count was 42.88, eosinophils was 1.53 and neutrophil count was 55.72. The total percentage of elevated AST was 5.0%, ALT was 6.0% and ALB was 10.5%. There was significant difference between malaria and ALT (p=0.000) also, there was significant difference between HCV and ALB (p=0.000). There was significant difference between HBV and AST (p=0.001), ALT (p=0.028) and ALB (p=0.028).The hepatitis viral infection had significant difference with ALB (p=0.000). The logistic regression shows that there was an association between hepatitis viral infection and aged group 27-35years (p=0.022), female (p=0.006), trading (p=0.001), tertiary (p=0.003) A+ve (p=0.018) and B+ve (p=0.001). In conclusion, Although, the prevalence of malaria was low, while that of hepatitis viral infection was high in the local government area, critical screening of blood donors is of prime importance because they serve as an asymptomatic reservoirs and a potential source of transmission of these infections. The strengthening of creating awareness on the general public regarding Malaria, HBV and HCV transmission and prevention should be embarked on.