Hepatitis B Virus Total Core Antibodies among HIV-1 Infected Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Negative Patients Attending a Tertiary Health Facility in North-central Nigeria

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of total Hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) among HIV-1 infected adults without Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg).

Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) adult HIV clinic at Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, North-Central Nigeria, between August and December, 2014.

Methodology: We determined the presence of total anti-HBc for 120 HIV-1 infected patients (32 males and 88 females, with a mean age of 40.4±10.6 years). We performed serological screening for total anti-HBc and for other serological markers for each patient, then performed CD4+ cell enumeration, biochemical analysis of serum for Alanine aminotransferase levels and HIV viral load assays.

Results: A total of 105, HIV-1 positive patients who were HBsAg negative were studied. Of these patients, 59 (56.2%) showed no HBV serological markers, 23 (21.9%) had total anti-HBc, and 15 (14.3%) had HB surface antibodies. Only one patient (1%) showed HBeAg while anti-HBe was detected in 20 (19.0%). The mean age of patients with anti-HBc was 41.4 ± 10.8 years which was similar to the mean age of patients who were negative for anti-HBc (P =.81). While no significant associations were observed between ALT levels, CD4 counts, marital or educational status and total anti-HBc of the patients (P =.91, P =.39, P =.78 and P =.44, respectively), there was a significant association between having a history of tooth extraction and total anti-HBc (P =.03).

Conclusion: There may be a need to assess occult HBV infection in HIV-infected individuals with isolated anti-HBc for active replication of HBV by detecting HBV DNA. Dental care practitioners must take great care to prevent possible transmission through surgical equipment used in procedures for tooth extraction.