Hepatitis B virus total core antibody status in unvaccinated general population in a community of Bangladesh

Mostak U. Ahmed; Sumona Tanu; Maisha T. Mithila; M. Jahangir Alam; Madhusudan Saha; Sadia R. Chowdhury; Syed A. Safwath; Malay K. S. Chowdhury; M. Oliur Rahman; M. Muhibur Rahman

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20240941

Authors

Mostak U. Ahmed Department of Gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Sumona Tanu Department of Physiology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Maisha T. Mithila North East Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
M. Jahangir Alam Department of Gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Madhusudan Saha Department of Gastroenterology, Sylhet Women’s Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Sadia R. Chowdhury Department of Community Medicine, Jalalabad Ragib - Rabeya Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Syed A. Safwath Department of Gastroenterology, Jalalabad Ragib - Rabeya Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
Malay K. S. Chowdhury Department of Gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
M. Oliur Rahman Department of Gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh
M. Muhibur Rahman Department of Gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20240941

Keywords:

Hepatitis B virus, Seropositive, Antibody, Vaccination

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant health challenge in Bangladesh, with the hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) being a crucial marker due to its lifelong presence in the bloodstream. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HBc (total) positivity among unvaccinated adults in Northeastern Bangladesh.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Sobhanighat area of Sylhet, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the department of gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, from November 2022 to August 2023. A total of 216 participants were selected using consecutive sampling. HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc (total) were tested for all subjects, and data were collected using a pre-formed questionnaire and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 24.

Results: Among the participants, 16 (7.4%) tested positive for anti-HBc (total), while HBsAg was positive in 6 (2.77%) individuals. Anti-HBs was detectable in 23 (10.6%) participants, with 3 (1.38%) showing isolated anti-HBc positivity. Notably, 20% of HBsAg-positive cases exhibited heterotypic anti-HBs. Moreover, 56.25% of respondents with anti-HBc (total) positivity had detectable anti-HBs (p<0.001). Gender did not show significant associations with HBsAg, anti-HBc (total), anti-HBs, or isolated anti-HBc (p>0.05).

Conclusions: The study underscores a notable prevalence of anti-HBc (total) positivity among unvaccinated individuals in Bangladesh, indicative of past HBV exposure. It underscores the necessity for enhanced vaccination coverage and robust infection control measures to mitigate HBV transmission in this demographic.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Hollinger FB. Hepatitis B virus infection and transfusion medicine: science and the occult. Transfusion. 2008;48(5):1001-26.

McMahon BJ, Parkinson AJ, Helminiak C, Wainwright RB, Bulkow L, Kellerman-Douglas A, et al. Response to hepatitis B vaccine of persons positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. Gastroenterology. 1992;103(2):590-4.

Raimondo G, Pollicino T, Cacciola I, Squadrito G. Occult hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2007;46(1):160-70.

Kwak MS, Kim YJ. Occult hepatitis B virus infection. World J Hepatol. 2014;6(12):860-9.

Gounder PP, Bulkow LR, McMahon BJ. hepatitis B surface seroclearance does reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma-authors reply. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;44(6):650-1.

Nathanson MH, Terrault N. Hepatitis B surface antigen loss: not all that we hoped it would be. Hepatology. 2016;64(2):328-9.

Madhavan A, Sachu A, Balakrishnan AK, Balakrishnan S, Vasudevapanicker J. Prevalence of Anti-HBc Antibodies among HBsAg Negative Individuals and Its Association with Occult Hepatitis B. J Lab Physicians. 2021;13(01):1-5.

Shil N, Biswas J, Khatun A, Rahman A, Sultana N, Easmin F, et al. Incidence of anti-HBc antibody (IgG and IgM) among HBsAg negative healthy blood donors. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Med Univ J. 2016;9(4):201-4.

Maheswari KS, Arun R, Arumugam P. The prevalence of the hepatitis B core antibody and the occult hepatitis B infection among voluntary blood donors in Chennai, India. J Clin Diagnostic Res JCDR. 2012;6(10):1710.

Jahan M, Islam MA, Akbar SM, Takahashi K, Tabassum S, Rahman A, et al. Anti-HBc screening of blood donors in Bangladesh: relevance to containment of HBV propagation. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2016;6(2):115-8.

Ghosh DK, Ghosh CK, Nath M, Safwath SA, Saha SK, Rowshon AH. Prevalence of anti-HBc total positivity in an impoverished Urban Community in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull. 2017;43(2):63-70.

Harun MG, Sumon SA, Mohona TM, Rahman A, Abdullah SA, Islam MS, et al. Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage among Bangladeshi Healthcare Workers: Findings from Tertiary Care Hospitals. Vaccines. 2023;11(1):1-10.

Uz-Zaman MH, Rahman A, Yasmin M. Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Bangladesh: Prevalence among General Population, Risk Groups, and Genotype Distribution. Genes (Basel). 2018;9(541).

Kayesh ME, Kohara M, Tsukiyama-Kohara K. Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Acute Viral Hepatitis in Bangladesh: An Overview. Microorganisms. 2022;10(11):1-11.

Uddin MS, Islam MN, Khan ME, Yeasmin S, Ahmed F, Amiruzzaman M. Frequency of Hepatitis B and C Viral Infection among the Medical Waste Handlers. Bangladesh J Infect Dis. 2018;4(1):3-9.

Mustafa MG, Alam MS, Azam MG, Alam MM, Islam MS, Khan M. Eliminating Hepatitis B from Bangladesh by the Year 2030. J Bangladesh Coll Physicians Surg. 2020;38(3):145-9.

Banik S, Datta A, Ghosh A, Ghosh KY, Debi H. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Bangladesh: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Epidemiol Infect. 2022;150(47):1-8.

Roy Biswas R, Karim M, Bhattacharjee B. Hepatitis B virus infection and vaccination status among health care workers of a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. J Sci Soc. 2015;42(3):176-9.

Hayashi J, Noguchi A, Nakashima K, Morofuji M, Kashiwagi S. Frequency of concurrence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in a large number of carriers in Okinawa, Japan. Gastroenterol Jpn. 1990;25(5):593-7.

Mwangi IA, Wesongah JO, Musyoki VM, Omosa-Manyonyi GS, Farah B, Edalia LG, et al. Assessment of hepatitis B vaccination status and hepatitis B surface antibody titers among health care workers in selected public health hospitals in Kenya. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023;3(4):1-10.

Gheorghe L, Csiki IE, Iacob S, Gheorghe C. The prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection in an adult population in Romania: A nationwide survey. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;25(1):56-64.