Detection of hepatitis B virus by in situ hybridization in corneal tissues of HBs AG positive donors

ABSTRACT

HBV is a hepatotropic virus. The highest concentration found in the blood and liver with lower amount in saliva and semen. The virus was also detected in body fluids. Keratoplasty is an essential operation for the treatment of corneal blindness. At Ain Shams University International Eye Bank 10% of the collected corneas were from donors with HBs antigenemia. These corneas were rejected according to the Eye Bank Association of America. In this study 32 corneal tissues of 16 donors positive HBsAg were examined for the presence of HBV by in situ DNA hybridization technique to detect HBV DNA in the corneal sections This marker could not be seen in this work This preliminary study could be an encouraging step for further researches to, evaluate the possibility of the avascular cornea to carry HBV