Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection and its phylogenetic features among mother-teenager pairs / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) was investigated in a paired mother-teenager population and HBV S gene variation including overt and occult HBV,was determined.Methods A follow-up study based on an initial survey of 135 mother-teenager pairs was carried out through collection of questionnaires and blood samples HBsAg were detected by ELISA method,viral load by PCR amplification and HBV S gene by phylogenetic analysis.Results 102 pairs of subjects were followed-up.Blood samples from 94 mothers and 101children were collected.OBI prevalence in mothers was 10.0％ (6/60),significantly higher than 2.0％(2/101) in teenagers.Medians of viral load were 399.9 IU/ml and 247.6 IU/ml in overt and occult HBV strains,but without significant difference.1 occult HBV strain belonged to genotype B with serotype adw while the other 7 were genotype C with serotype adr.15 of the overt HBV strains belonged to genotype B with serotype adw and the other 8 were genotype C with serotype adr.Proportions of genotype-C strains were significantly higher in occult HBV strains than in overt HBV strains.Conclusion OBI was seen in teenage-mother population.