ABSTRACT
Viral hepatitis is a major global public health problem and both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are rapidly spreading in the developing countries including Bangladesh. A molecular characteristic-based epidemiological study was conducted to identify the Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Dhaka City, Bangladesh among all age groups, gender and marital status and to identify the possible risk factors for acquiring the infections. Informed consent was taken from every individual being tested and approval was obtained from institutional ethical review committee. Using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for 1855 blood samples, our study clearly indicated a high prevalence of active HBV and HCV as 8.0% and 3.0% respectively in general public of Savar, Dhaka. Both HBV and HCV prevalence varied significantly in different age groups with respect to gender and marital status. In case of HBV, it was least prevalent for individuals whose age was above 60 years. Contrary in case of HCV, it was least prevalent for individuals whose age was below 11 years and above 60 years. However, middle aged populations, especially 31–40 and 21–30 year individuals were observed at higher risk of hepatitis B and C ailments with 11.28% active HBV prevalence and 5.77% active HCV prevalence with respect to gender, respectively. The findings and further studies of genotype distribution might guide eventually the development, adaptation and evaluation of prevention strategies.
ABSTRACT
We set out to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C among human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infected individuals in North-Central Nigeria to define the influence of these infections on CD4+ lymphocytes cells among our patients as access to antiretroviral therapy improves across the Nigerian nation. The CD4+ values of 180 confirmed HIV-1 infected individuals were enumerated using a superior fluorescence-activated cell sorter system. These patients were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) using third generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Fifty (27.8 percent) patients had active hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection while 33 (18.3 percent) tested positive for anti-HCV antibody. Of these infections, 110 (61.1 percent), 37 (20.6 percent), and 20 (11.1 percent) had HIV only, HBV/HIV-only, and HCV/HIV-only respectively. A HBV/HCV/HIV coinfection prevalence of 7.2 percent (13 patients) was recorded. Patients coinfected with HIV/HBV/HCV appeared to have lower CD4+ counts (mean = 107 cells/æl; AIDS defining) when compared to HBV/HIV-only (mean = 377 cells/æl), HCV/HIV-only (mean = 373 cells/æl) and patients with mono HIV infection (mean = 478 cells/æl). Coinfection with HBV or HCV is relatively common among HIV-infected patients in Nigeria and should be a big consideration in the initiation and choice of therapy.