Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis B Virus Antigens and Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Blood Donors

Abstract

Background: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the presence of HBV DNA in liver tissue and/or in serum in the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). It is a world-wide entity that is considered as a potential risk for transmission of HBV infection. Aim: This study was aimed to determine the rate of occult HBV infection among unpaid blood donors in Diyala province-Iraq. Subjects and methods: This study was conducted for the period from 1st. May 2011 to 1st. April 2012. A total of 186 unpaid blood donors were chosen by simple random selection from those attending the Central Blood Bank in the Public Health Laboratory in Diyala province. 171 (91.9%) were male and 15 (8.1%) were female. The age range was 19-60 years. Sera of blood donors were subjected for HBsAg screening test, anti-HBs antibody, anti-HBc IgM antibody by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), as well as detection of HBV DNA by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: The positivity rate of HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM and HBV DNA were 4.3%, 3.2% and 8.1%. Among the HBsAg negative blood donors, the HBc IgM positivity rate were 3.4% and the HBV DNA was detected in 3.9% (occult HBV). Conclusion: The relatively high rate of occult hepatitis B viral infection among blood donors may be responsible, at least in part, for the perpetuation of the infection in the community.