Profiles of Hepatitis B Virus Serological Markers among Asymptomatic Population in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria

Bakarey AS¹, Ifeorah IM^2*, Adewumi MO³, Faleye TOC^3,4, Akere A⁵, Omoruyi EC⁶, Ogunwale AO⁷, Uttah CC⁸, Oketade MA⁴ and Adeniji JA³

¹Institute for Advanced Medical Research & Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria

³Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

⁴Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

⁵Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

⁶Institute of Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

⁷Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora, Nigeria

⁸Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author : Ifeorah IM
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu, Nigeria
Tel: +2348063845774
E-mail: maryjoy1023@yahoo.ca

Received: October 20, 2017 Accepted: November 10, 2017 Published: November 17, 2017

Citation: Bakarey AS, Ifeorah IM, Adewumi MO, Faleye TOC, Akere A, et al. (2017) Profiles of Hepatitis B Virus Serological Markers among Asymptomatic Population in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria. J Virol Antivir Res 6:3. doi: 10.4172/2324-8955.1000174

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is apparent in endemic countries affecting millions of people. Further, the asymptomatic nature of the pathogen is a major public health concern. This study was designed to assess the burden of HBV by exploring the serologic markers of infection among consenting asymptomatic community dwellers in two cities in southeastern Nigeria.
A total of 405 blood specimens were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, total anti-HBc and anti-HBc-IgM using ELISA technique. Overall, 14 (3.5%) of the participants had detectable HBsAg out of which 1 (7.1%) had HBeAg and 13, anti-HBe. Two of the HBsAg positives (14.3%) had detectable anti-HBc-IgM. A
total of 144 (35.5%) had detectable anti-HBc, even as 65 (57.0%) of them had the marker as the only serologic evidence of HBV exposure. Thirty-seven (9.1%) participants had anti-HBs only although all of them were born before the start of the childhood HBV vaccination. Altogether, 224 (57.3%) had no detectable serological markers of HBV infection or immunity and were obviously at risk of HBV infection.
This study described various patterns of HBV serologic markers of infection in the study population and probable risk of virus spread. Our results support the need for urgent intervention and implementation of measures to control the spread of HBV infection in Nigeria.