Urine from chronic hepatitis B virus carriers: implications for infectivity.
Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) without apparent sexual or parenteral exposure is common in hyperendemic areas. In most cases, the route of transmission is unknown. To investigate urine as a potential source of infection, serum and urine from 56 chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers were examined for the presence of HBV DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty-four of the patients were anti-hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) positive and 22 were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive. HBV DNA was detected in serum from 46 patients (82%) and in urine from 28 patients (50%). Most HBeAg-positive patients had HBV DNA detectable in urine (91%), whereas urine samples from anti-HBe-positive patients were found to contain HBV DNA to a lesser extent (24%). When comparing HBV DNA from serum and urine by an end-point titration PCR, a titration difference averaging 10(3) was found between serum and urine. A significant female predominance was also noted among the positive urine samples (P < 0.05), which was not correlated to the presence of haematuria. Detection of HBV DNA may indicate active viral replication, and thereby infectivity. Because a high proportion of chronic HBV carriers were found to have HBV DNA in urine, it is suggested that irrespective of HBeAg/anti-HBe status, urine should be regarded as a potential route of transmission and therefore be investigated further as a means of horizontal and nosocomial transmission of HBV.
Knutsson
M
M
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden.
Kidd-Ljunggren
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens