Analysis of hepatitis B virus in the cerumen and otorrhea of chronic HBV-infected patients: is there a hepatitis B virus infectivity?
OBJECTIVE
The object of this study was to find out whether cerumen and otorrhea have any infectivity in the transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV).


BACKGROUND
The HBV infection is a worldwide health problem. It can be transmitted by infected blood or other body fluids through percutaneous or permucosal exposure. Recently, there have been some reports where cerumen can be a potential source of HBV transmission.


METHODS
This study was performed on 30 chronic hepatitis B patients who tested positive in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag). Thirty cerumen and 5 otorrhea samples were analyzed. The cerumen and the serum were examined for (HBs Ag) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBe Ag) by using enzyme immunoassay systems. As for HBV DNA detection, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed on the serum, cerumen, and otorrhea.


RESULTS
: Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in the 20 samples of cerumen (66.7%) and all 5 otorrhea (100%) from 30 patients. The mean values of HBV DNA in cerumen and otorrhea were significantly lower than serum. Hepatitis B virus DNA and HBs Ag were detected with significantly higher rates in the cerumen of patients who are serum HBe Ag positive than negative. However, positive HBe Ag, which implies that it is associated with the increased risk of disease progression and infectivity, was not detected in any of cerumen samples.


CONCLUSIONS
The cerumen and otorrhea of chronic hepatitis B patients have a low risk of infectivity.
Goh
Eui-Kyung
EK
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Son
Bong-Hyung
BH
Kong
Soo-Keun
SK
Chon
Kyong-Myong
KM
Cho
Kyu-Sup
KS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000821:virology*; D002571:Cerumen / Q000821:virology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044967:Serum / Q000821:virology
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens