[Low impact of silent hepatitis B virus infection on the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis in Venezuela].
OBJECTIVE
Silent infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) occurs in the absence of serological markers for the virus. This type of occult infection is generally chronic, asymptomatic, and associated with low levels of viral replication. This study determined the presence of HBV DNA in the sera of blood donors who were negative for serological markers that were tested during screening, with the goal of evaluating the impact of silent HBV infection in posttransfusion hepatitis B in Venezuela.


METHODS
A total of 2,075 sera were tested in 53 serum pools of 25-50 donations (0.5-1.0 mL from each sample). The pools were subjected to ultracentrifugation prior to DNA extraction by the proteinase K, phenol/chloroform method.


RESULTS
No HBV DNA was found in any of the pools by nested polymerase chain reaction, using primers for highly conserved regions of the genes that code for the surface antigen and for the viral capsid. Aminotransferase levels were normal in 98% of 200 sera that were tested.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that there is a low risk of acquiring posttransfusion hepatitis B in Venezuela.
Gutiérrez
C
C
Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, IVIC, Apdo, 21827, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela.
León
G
G
Liprandi
F
F
Pujol
F H
FH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology
D004279:DNA, Viral