The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis B core antibody in Iran: A population-based study

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is a very common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. It is estimated that 3 of Iranians are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus. Current population-based studies on both rural and urban prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Iran are sparse with results that do not always agree. We performed this study to find the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis B core antibody, and associated factors in the general population of three provinces of Iran. Methods: We randomly selected 6,583 subjects from three provinces in Iran, namely Tehran, Golestan, and Hormozgan. The subjects were aged between 18 and 65 years. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis B core antibody. Various risk factors were recorded and multivariate analysis was performed. Results: The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis B core antibody in Iran was 2.6 and 16.4, respectively. Predictors of hepatitis B surface antigen or anti-hepatitis B core antibody in multivariate analysis included older age, not having high-school diploma, living in a rural area, and liver disease in a family member. We did not find any significant differences between males and females. Conclusion: In spite of nationwide vaccination of newborns against hepatitis B virus since 1992, hepatitis B virus infection remains a very common cause of chronic liver disease in Iran which should be dealt with for at least the next 30-50 years

Integrating Viral Hepatitis Screening and Prevention Services into an Urban Chemical Dependency Treatment Facility for American Indians and Alaska Natives

American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) patients at an urban residential chemical dependency treatment center participated in a viral hepatitis prevention project. Project activities integrated into patients’ treatment programs included viral hepatitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk factor screening, education and counseling, laboratory testing, and hepatitis A and B vaccination. Of 928 AI/AN admissions, 585 (63%) completed risk factor screening assessment. Of these, 436 (75%) received at least one vaccination, viral hepatitis testing, or both. Of 322 patients tested, 91 (28%) were hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive. Lack of pre-existing immunity to vaccine-preventable viral hepatitis infection was common: 132 (45%) were susceptible to hepatitis A and 224 (70%) were susceptible to hepatitis B infection. Chemical dependency treatment centers serving urban AI/AN provide important opportunities for implementing viral hepatitis prevention programs for high-risk populations and for improving ongoing efforts to reduce the disparate impact of chronic liver disease in AI/ AN people

Hepatitis C Screening in the Homeless Population of Philadelphia

Hepatitis C is a viral infectious disease that is a major cause of liver disease around the world. By the 1970s, it was recognized that many hepatitis cases were not due to the known hepatitis A or hepatitis B viruses. It was not until 1989 when the virus, then known as non--‐A, non--‐B hepatitis, was identified as a new distinct virus, hepatitis C. The virus has seven major genotypes, with genotype 1 causing about 75% of cases in the United States. By 1990, a screening test for the virus was developed, and within a year, the first treatment for the virus was approved.1 Research through the 1990s and into the early 2000s improved treatment options. Before 2011, the standard of care treatment for hepatitis C consisted of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, which successfully cured between 45% and 80% of individuals, depending on the specific genotype of HCV. In recent years, new treatments consisting of a combination of ledpiasivir, sofosbuvir, ribavirin, and pegylated interferon have improved the cure rate to up to 99% in some genotypes.2 These drugs work without the many severe side effects of older classes of drugs, which had a relatively high risk of causing life threatening hemolytic anemia.3 However, the cost of these new treatments can approach $100,000 for a twelve--‐week therapy, making the cost of treatment prohibitively expensive for many Americans. 4https://jdc.jefferson.edu/cwicposters/1027/thumbnail.jp

A homosexual japanese man with acute hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus genotype ae, concurrent with amebic colitis

We report herein a case with acute hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus genotype Ae, concurrent with amebic colitis. A 39-year-old homosexual Japanese man was admitted to our hospital with jaundice. Laboratory tests showed an elevation of transaminase and positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen and IgM-type antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. The hepatitis B virus genotype was determined to be Ae. Furthermore, a mud-like stool with blood and mucous had sometimes been noted during the past 3 years, and amebic colitis was shown by colonofi berscopy during hospitalization. The patient was diagnosed with acute hepatitis B, concurrent with amebic colitis, and was successfully treated with lamivudine and metronidazole. In Japanese patients with acute hepatitis B virus genotype A infection, homosexual activity tends to be high. Furthermore, in Japanese homosexual men, amebiasis has been increasing. Thus, in Japanese patients with acute hepatitis B, a determination of genotype should be performed in order to investigate the route of transmission of hepatitis B virus, and a search for amebiasis should be performed in patients with acute hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus genotype A. Furthermore, education of homosexual men regarding hepatitis B virus, hepatitis B virus vaccination, and amebiasis is urgently required

An appraisal of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus health system in Nigeria

The study aimed to assess the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats influencing the achievement of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus. It also sought to suggest recommendations to improve the current prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus health system in Nigeria. A critical appraisal of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus health system in Nigeria was conducted. The WHO health system framework was used to assess the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus system. Considering the recent call by the World Health Organization to eliminate hepatitis and the existence of a robust prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus health system, the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus health system in Nigeria is riddled with numerous challenges. These range from a health worker crisis, poor leadership and governance, inadequate health information, medicines, vaccines and technologies and poor service delivery. Urgent action in the Nigerian prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus health system is required if Nigeria is to achieve its goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2021

Expression in Escherichia coli of a cloned DNA sequence encoding the pre-S2 region of hepatitis B virus

A DNA sequence encoding the entire pre-S2 region (amino acids 120-174; serotype ayw) of human hepatitis B virus envelope protein has been inserted into the lacZ gene of the plasmid pSKS105 yielding a recombinant, pWS3. Lac+ colonies of the Escherichia coli M182 (lacIOPZYA), isolated after transformation with pWS3, produced a pre-S2 peptide-ß-galactosidase fusion protein. This fusion protein, which comprised as much as 3% of the total bacterial protein, was purified to >90% homogeneity by affinity chromatography on p-aminophenyl-ß-D-thiogalactoside-Sepharose. It is immunoprecipitable with rabbit antibodies to a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 120-145 of the pre-S2 region of serotype adw [pre-S(120-145)] or with antibodies to hepatitis B virus. pre-S(120-145) completely blocked the binding of either antibody to the pre-S2 peptide-ß-galactosidase fusion protein. These results indicate that there are antigenic determinants on the fusion protein that are closely related to, if not identical to, determinants on synthetic pre-S(120-145) and on pre-S2 sequences of native hepatitis B virus particles. Thus, bacteria transformed with pWS3 can provide an abundant source of pre-S2-ß-galactosidase fusion protein, which may prove useful either as a diagnostic reagent possessing marker enzyme activity suitable for ELISA tests or as an immunogen with potential to contribute to active prophylaxis of hepatitis B

Frequency of hepatitis D virus infection in individuals with hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBS Ag) in Ardabil province

Frequency of hepatitis D virus infection in individuals with hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBS Ag) in Ardabil province Introduction: hepatitis D virus (HDV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV)co-infection is well known to induce a spectrum of acute and chronic liver disease which further advance to cirrhosis , fulminant hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the Frequency of hepatitis D virus super-infection among hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive individuals. Methods: The 200 HBsAg positive patients who had visited in liver clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital were included in this study. Anti-HDV was measured by ELISA in the serum of these patients.patient demographic data and risk factors of transmission were recorded. Results: The study included 121 males(60.5%) and 79(39.5%) females. HDV infection was detected in 3.5% (7/200) of (HBsAg )positive patients. The mean age of individuals positive for antibody to HDV was 53.85-+13.3 years ,and the mean age of nonreactive individuals was 37.17-+12.73 years (p=0.001). HDV infection was equally distributed between sexes. Comparing HBV/HDV co-infection to HBV monoinfection patients, more had cirrhosis (42.58% vs. 5.18% ).(p=0.001) In this study ,previous surgical procedures and blood transfusions were the most frequent risk factors in patients with HDV antibody. Conclusion: The results show the endemicity of HDV infection in Ardabil. HDV infection increases the risk of severe liver fibrosis in this region

Feasibility and Acceptability of an English-as-a-Second Language Curriculum on Hepatitis B for Older Chinese American Immigrants

Asian immigrants to the U.S. have an increased prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection compared to native born individuals; an estimated 10 percent of Chinese immigrants are infected with HBV. Using qualitative data from focus groups, we developed an English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) curriculum that aimed to improve knowledge about key hepatitis B facts. The curriculum was pilot-tested among 56 students aged 50 and older from intermediate-level ESL classes at a community-based organization that serves Chinese immigrants. Post-curriculum data showed increases in knowledge that hepatitis B can cause liver cancer (73% at pre-test vs. 91% at post-test; p value = 0.01) and that individuals can be infected with hepatitis B for life (34% vs. 81%; p valu

Does limited virucidal activity of biocides include duck hepatitis B virucidal action?

BACKGROUND: There is agreement that the infectivity assay with the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) is a suitable surrogate test to validate disinfectants for hepatitis B virucidal activity. However, since this test is not widely used, information is necessary whether disinfectants with limited virucidal activity also inactivate DHBV. In general, disinfectants with limited virucidal activity are used for skin and sensitive surfaces while agents with full activity are more aggressive. The present study compares the activity of five different biocides against DHBV and the classical test virus for limited virucidal activity, the vaccinia virus strain Lister Elstree (VACV) or the modified vaccinia Ankara strain (MVA). METHODS: Virucidal assay was performed as suspension test according to the German DVV/RKI guideline. Duck hepatitis B virus obtained from congenitally infected Peking ducks was propagated in primary duck embryonic hepatocytes and was detected by indirect immunofluorescent antigen staining. RESULTS: The DHBV was inactivated by the use of 40% ethanol within 1-min and 30% isopropanol within 2-min exposure. In comparison, 40% ethanol within 2-min and 40% isopropanol within 1-min exposure were effective against VACV/MVA. These alcohols only have limited virucidal activity, while the following agents have full activity. 0.01% peracetic acid inactivated DHBV within 2 min and a concentration of 0.005% had virucidal efficacy against VACV/MVA within 1 min. After 2-min exposure, 0.05% glutardialdehyde showed a comparable activity against DHBV and VACV/MVA. This is also the case for 0.7% formaldehyde after a contact time of 30 min. CONCLUSIONS: Duck hepatitis B virus is at least as sensitive to limited virucidal activity as VACV/MVA. Peracetic acid is less effective against DHBV, while the alcohols are less effective against VACV/MVA. It can be expected that in absence of more direct tests the results may be extrapolated to HBV

Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus/hepatitis B virus co-infection in Southern Brazil: clinical and epidemiological evaluation

AbstractHepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus share a similar transmission pathway and are often diagnosed in the same patient. These patients tend to have a faster progression of hepatic fibrosis. This cross-sectional study describes the demographic features and clinical profile of human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis co-infected patients in Paraná, Southern Brazil. A total of 93 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients attending a tertiary care academic hospital in Southern Brazil were included. Clinical, demographic and epidemiological data were evaluated. Hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus positive serology was found in 6.6% of patients. The anti-hepatitis C virus serum test was positive in 85% (79/93) of patients, and the infection was confirmed in 72% of the cases. Eighteen patients (19%) were human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis B virus positive (detectable HBsAg). Among co-infected patients, there was a high frequency of drug use, and investigations for the detection of co-infection were conducted late. A low number of patients were eligible for treatment and, although the response to antiretroviral therapy was good, there was a very poor response to hepatitis therapy. Our preliminary findings indicate the need for protocols aimed at systematic investigation of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, thus allowing for early detection and treatment of co-infected patients