Hepatitis B Virus Distribution And Associated Risks Factors In Some Selected Risk Groups In Enugu Metropolis
Hepatitis B Virus In Selected Risk Groups
Anthony Ike
Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Edith Nwabueze
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001 Enugu State, Nigeria; Pathological Laboratory, 82 Division Hospital, Nigerian Army, Enugu Nigeria
Reuben Onwe
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001 Enugu State, Nigeria
Professor C. U. Iroegbu
Department of Biological Sciences, Cross River Univerity of Technology, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Dr. Emmanuel Mbaawuaga
Department of Biological Sciences, Benue State University Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, HBsAg, Transaminases, HIV patients, Blood donors, Pregnant women
Abstract
The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes liver infection that can be life–threatening and often leads to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. A cross sectional study was conducted to determine Hepatitis B virus distribution and associated risk factors among some high risk groups in Enugu Metropolis. A total of 518 subjects were sampled over a period of 2 years, from January 2013 to January 2015. The subjects consist of 233 blood donors, 164 pregnant women, 37 diabetic patients, 62 HIV patients and 22 sickle cell patients. Approximately 5 ml of blood was aseptically collected from each volunteer and analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). All HBV positive patients were analyzed for liver enzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Patients co-infected with HIV were analyzed for CD4+ lymphocyte count. Out of the 518 samples, 45 (8.7%) were positive for HBsAg. The prevalence of HBV was highest among HIV patients 16 (25.8%), followed by blood donors 20 (8.6%), pregnant women 9 (5.5%) and 0% for both sickle cell and diabetic patients. Higher prevalence of HBsAg was found among males 25 (10.2%) than females 20 (7.3%). Out of the 45 HBsAg positive patients, 8 (17.8%) had high ALT levels, while 9 (20.0%) had high AST levels. Abnormal levels of transaminases (ALT and AST) were more in HIV patients (43.8%) than in pregnant women (22.2%) and blood donors (10%). All patients co-infected with HIV-HBV had CD4+ lymphocyte count of less than 1000 cells/µl even though they were on combination antiretroviral therapy. The risk factors of HBV in this study were multiple sex partners, age and unemployment (P=0.000), (P=0.045) and (P=0.014) respectively. There was high prevalence of HBV among HIV patients and blood donors and an intermediate prevalence among pregnant women in Enugu Metropolis. A vaccination programme targeting these risk groups is highly recommended.