Author/Authors :
Makvandi، Manoochehr نويسنده , , Neisi، Niloofar نويسنده , , Khalafkhany، Davod نويسنده Virology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran , , Makvandi، Kamyar نويسنده School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran , , Hajiani، Eskandar نويسنده , , Shayesteh، Ali Akbar نويسنده Department of Internal Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran , , Masjedi Zadeh، Abdolrahim نويسنده Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran , , Sina، Amir Hosein نويسنده Pathology Unit, Danesh Laboratory, Tehran, IR Iran , , Hamidifard، Mojtaba نويسنده Virology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran , , Rasti، Mojtaba نويسنده Department of Medical Microbiology , School of Medicine , Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Science, Ahvaz, IR Iran Rasti, Mojtaba , Aryan، Ehsan نويسنده Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR , , Ahmadi، Kambiz نويسنده Department of Statistics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medicine, Ahvaz, IR Iran , , Yad Yad، Mohammad Jafar نويسنده Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: The occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the sera or in the liver biopsy and the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by serological test.
Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the occult HBV infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and determine HBV genotyping among the patients with abnormal alanine transaminase (ALT) in Ahvaz city, Iran.
Patients and Methods: The sera of 120 patients, 54 (45%) females and 66 (55%) males, with abnormal ALT 40-152 IU were collected. All the patients were negative for HBsAg for more than one year. The patients` sera were tested by PCR using primers specified for the S region of HBV. Then the positive PCR products were sequenced to determine HBV genotyping and phylogenic tree.
Results: Of these 120 subjects, 12 (10%) patients including 6 (5%) males and 6 (5%) females were found positive for HBV DNA by PCR, which indicated the presence of occult HBV infection among these patients. The sequencing results revealed that genotype D was predominant with sub-genotyping D1 among OBI patients.
Conclusions: Occult hepatitis B infection is remarkably prevalent in Ahvaz, Iran, and should be considered as a potential risk factor for the transmission of Hepatitis B Virus throughout the community by the carriers.
