[Hepatitis B antigens systems in schistosomiasis mansoni]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Parasitology

Context:

• Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that can affect the liver.
• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common co-infection in endemic areas.
• Understanding the interplay between schistosomiasis and HBV is crucial for patient management.

Purpose:

• To investigate the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigenic systems (HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe) in patients with mansonic schistosomiasis.
• To correlate HBV markers with liver histology and disease severity in schistosomiasis patients.
• To evaluate the prognostic value of HBeAg and anti-HBe in this patient cohort.

Summary:

• Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was observed in 22.5% of schistosomiasis patients with the hepatosplenic form, associated with liver damage.
• Anti-HBs positivity was found in 8.7% of patients with the hepatointestinal form, linked to preserved liver histology.
• Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and anti-HBe demonstrated significant prognostic value.

Impact:

• This study highlights the increased prevalence of HBV infection in schistosomiasis patients with severe liver involvement.
• Findings suggest that HBV serological markers can aid in assessing liver health and prognosis in schistosomiasis.
• The research provides valuable insights for co-infection management strategies in schistosomiasis-endemic regions.