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Background: The occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is a health concern among high-risk groups and immunosuppressed individuals. There is still a paucity of data regarding the occult hepatitis B virus infection among hemophilic patients. With this in mind, we aimed to evaluate the molecular prevalence of OBI among clients with hemophilia., Methods: Totally, 87 hemophilic patients were selected to be studied. To detect OBI, nested polymerase chain reaction test was used to amplify HBV-S, X, and Core regions. Viral load was determined using an in-house real-time PCR assay. Finally, sequence of S gene was used for genotyping and analysis of mutations., Results: The mean age of patients was 28.4 ± 5.3 years old, with 90.7% of whom were men. HBV-DNA was detected in eight subjects (9.3%). The rate of OBI was much higher in anti-HBs seronegative subjects than that in other patients (P = 0.019). All OBI cases had HBV genotype D, subgenotype D1. In addition, five out of eight cases (62.5%) showed detectable viral loads (a mean viral load of 4.5 × 10 2 copies/mL). sR73H, sI110L, sP120A, sP127T, sQ129H, sG130R, and sC137S were shown to be the most determinant escape mutation and OBI-relevant mutants., Conclusion: The rate of OBI among the studied population of hemophilia seems to be remarkable. Therefore, screening for OBI must be a routine practice in patients with hemophilia and also patients undergoing immunosuppressive treatments. Amino acid substitutions were observed in the major hydrophilic region. However further investigations are needed for analysis of exact function., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: Features of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among the anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) positives have yet to be described in more details. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of occult HBV infection (OBI), and association to risk factors among seropositives for anti-HBc., Methods: This was part of a community-based screening project that included 5234 cases. All participants completed a questionnaire on demographic and socio-epidemiological information. Then, the blood samples were collected and tested for anti-HBc and HBsAg using ELISA method. To identify OBI, nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed for HBV-S and X genes, and viral load was determined using an in-house real-time PCR. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis have been implemented for genotyping., Results: Overall, 596 cases, positive only for anti-HBc were included in the study. OBI was detected among 61 cases (10.2%). The genotype and subgenotype of HBV among all of them was D1, except one that was D4. Most of them had low viral loads ranged from 1.2 × 10 2 to 1.34 × 10 3  copies/mL; 19.6% had undetectable viral loads. Important mutations in surface protein and reverse transcriptase were sI92T, sQ129H, rtL80I, rtS85F, rtL91I. The prevalence of OBI was related to some risk factors, such as tattooing (P = 0.02), sexual activities (P = 0.009), and diabetes (P = 0.031)., Conclusion: Our study suggests that OBI should be considered among anti-HBc seropositive subjects. This form of HBV infection was accompanied with some mutations, risk factors, and diseases. However, further investigations are needed to determine virological importance of documented mutations., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV could persist in the low replicate state that is defines as occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI). Recently, OBI has been defined important in the development and/or exacerbation of HCC and other liver diseases. Objectives: This study tried to determine the frequency of OBI among liver tumor samples. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among patients with HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) in hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences. Liver tumor samples (Fresh frozen and formalin fixed paraffin embedded) were processed for isolation of DNA and then subjected to molecular assays, including PCR examinations of HBV genes (S, X, and C), determination of viral loads, detection of HBV-cccDNA, phylogenetic analysis, and assessment of mutations in HBsAg and RT regions. Results: In total, there were 93 participants, including HCC (n = 60), iCCA (n = 33); among which, 15% were detected positive for OBI. The OBI among HCC and iCCA were 18.3% and 9.1%, respectively. The mean intrahepatic viral load was 1.3 x 105 ± 1.4 x 10² copies/µl, and 5 had detectable cccDNA. The OBI subjects belonged to the HBV genotype D and subgenotype D1. In the HBsAg protein, T45N (33.3%) and P105A (25%) were the most prevalent mutations. N53K (33.3%), Y54H (25%), L80I (33.3%), and A113G (25%) were missense mutations that were observed in the RT domain. Conclusions: HBV-DNA was detected among liver tumor samples with negative HBsAg status. The results of viral load and cccDNA tests are important in identification and prognosis of liver diseases. It's needed more precise molecular and cohort studies to clarify the functions of OBI in liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still a leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma around the world. Objectives: Having recently received reports of high HBV prevalence in the South Khorasan Province in the Esfandiar village, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HBV in this region in comparison to neighboring villages, with associations to risk factors. Methods: This was a cross sectional study that included the Esfandiar village and neighboring villages, Marghoub, and Zenowghan. All of the Esfandiar and certain neighboring villages were summoned and blood sampling was performed along with the completion of a questionnaire. Positivity for HBsAg, anti-HBc along with the seromarkers of HCV and HDV were assayed using ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software with chi-square tests, logistic regression, and risk-estimation analysis. Results: From total 1.245 participants, 856, 172, and 217 cases were from the Esfandiar, Marghoub, and Zenowghan villages, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HBc in the Esfandiar, Marghoub, and Zenowghan were 48.7%, 20.3%, and 7.8%, respectively (P-value: 0.001). The figures for HBsAg were 17.8%, 1.7%, and 0.5%, respectively (P-value: 0.001). HBV was more prevalent among those with a history of experimental dentistry, traditional phlebotomy, war veterans, endoscopy, and familial history of HBV. In Esfandiar, prevalence of HBsAg among below and above 22 years- old (beginning of national HB vaccination) were 2.3% and 22.4%, respectively (P-value < 0.001). Conclusions: There was a very high prevalence of HBV in this small endemic region. The result showed the impressive effect of neonatal vaccination on reducing the incidence of hepatitis B, by 89.7%. Thus, the high prevalence requires an urgent consideration of organizing health programs and certain sociocultural behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]