Characterization of Occult Hepatitis B Infection Among Injecting Drug Users in Tehran, Iran
| Author | Maryam Asli | en |
| Author | Tahmineh Kandelouei | en |
| Author | Koroush Rahimyan | en |
| Author | Foad Davoodbeglou | en |
| Author | Maryam Vaezjalali | en |
| Issued Date | 2016-03-01 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) and its associated risk factors, together with the molecular characterization of the virus in injecting drug users of Tehran. Patients and Methods: The study consisted of 229 injecting drug users. Serum samples were collected and tested for the presence of hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBV B virus DNA was extracted from the serum samples, and a fragment of the S gene was amplified using the nested polymerase chain reaction. The genotype, subgenotypes, subtype, and S gene mutation of HBV were determined by direct sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the neighbor-joining method. Results: Sixty-four (28%) participants were HBcAb positive, 59 cases were HBcAb positive and HBsAg negative, and 5 cases were HBsAg positive. Hepatitis B DNA was found in three HBsAg-positive cases. Thirteen of 59 (22%) individuals were hepatitis B DNA positive. The phylogenetic tree of hepatitis B DNA showed the existence of genotype D. The only significant correlation was between sharing a syringe and OBI. Conclusions: In comparison with the rate of HBcAb positivity reported in other Iranian studies, the rate was higher in the present study. There were a few variations, genotypes, and subtypes among the infected injecting drug users. Further investigations are needed to unravel the molecular characterization of OBI. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.34763 | en |
| Keyword | Injecting Drug User | en |
| Keyword | Hepatitis B | en |
| Keyword | Genotype | en |
| Keyword | Hepatitis B Surface Antigen | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Characterization of Occult Hepatitis B Infection Among Injecting Drug Users in Tehran, Iran | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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