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Evaluation of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in Patients with Seronegative HbsAg
E Gholami Parizad1, A Khosravi, E Gholami Parizad
1Dept. of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was detected in biological fluids of chronic hepatitis patients and controls. PCR and Real Time PCR are more reliable for detecting HBV carriers than ELISA alone.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global health concern, with an estimated 370 million chronic carriers worldwide.
- Approximately 3% of the Iranian population are chronic HBV carriers.
- Routine diagnostic tests may underestimate the prevalence of chronic HBV infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the presence of HBV DNA in biological fluids of chronic hepatitis patients compared to a control group.
- To compare the diagnostic efficacy of ELISA, PCR, and Real Time PCR for HBV detection.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 70 chronic hepatitis patients and a control group.
- Detection of HBV DNA using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and Real Time PCR.
Main Results:
- 100% of the case group tested positive for HBsAg, compared to 2.8% in the control group.
- PCR and Real Time PCR identified approximately 7% of the control group as chronic HBV carriers, a higher detection rate than ELISA.
- Significant viral DNA loads were detected in both serum and ear cerumen samples, highlighting the importance of diverse biological fluids and methods for detection.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of chronic HBV carriers is likely higher than currently diagnosed by routine methods.
- ELISA is insufficient as a standalone screening test for chronic HBV carriers.
- PCR and Real Time PCR offer superior reliability for detecting and screening chronic HBV carriers.
Background:
It is estimated that about 370 million people are chronic carriers of HBV worldwide. Apparently 3% of Iranian populations are chronic carriers of this virus. We aimed to evaluate the viral DNA in biological fluids of chronic hepatitis patients compared to a control group.
Methods:
The current case-control study was designed to evaluate the viral DNA in biological fluids of 70 chronic hepatitis patients compared to a control group using ELISA, PCR and Real Time.
Results:
All individuals (100%) in case group were HBsAg positive while in control group only 2 individuals (2.8%) were HBsAg positive. Three individuals, in control group were positive using PCR and Real Time PCR indicating that about 7% of those in control group were chronic carriers of HBV. The interesting point was the copy of viral DNA; (5.49 ×10(4), 2.162×10(3) and 7.26×10(6)) for 3 chronic carriers using sera while it was about (5.71×10(3), 1.45×10(2) and 2.56×10(5)) using ear cerumen confirming the necessity of investigating for the carriers of HBV in different biological fluid and by different methods.
Conclusion:
It can be concluded chronic carriers of hepatitis B are much more than what is diagnosed by routine diagnostic tests. On the other hand ELISA alone can not be relied on as a complete test for screening of chronic carriers in hepatitis B. PCR and Real Time PCR are more reliable tests for this purpose.
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