title: Detection of highly prevalent hepatitis B virus co-infection with HIV in Indonesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection with HIV is increasing worldwide because of shared transmission routes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV and HIV co-infection in Indonesia, and its molecular and clinical characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 118 serum samples from HIV-infected patients (age 33.3 ± 8.9 years, 99 male, 19 female) collected in 2009 were serologically examined. HBV DNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis targeting the S region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 15.3% (18/118) of the patients were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive, whereas 27.1% (32/118) were HBsAg negative but HBV DNA positive, and were considered to have occult HBV infection. HBsAg antibodies and/or HBV core antibodies were detected in 45.6% (31/68) of HBV DNA negative patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV co-infection, including occult HBV infection, was common in Indonesian HIV patients. Hepatic damage by the interaction of host immunity and HBV is still a remaining issue in these immunosuppressive patients, and further study will be needed.
authors: Indonesia-Japan Collaborative Research Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Disease, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia; Center for Infectious Diseases, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors: Takako
authors: T
authors: Utsumi
authors: Yoshihiko
authors: Y
authors: Yano
authors: Maria I
authors: MI
authors: Lusida
authors: Nasronudin
authors: Mochamad
authors: M
authors: Amin
authors: Juniastuti
authors: Soetjipto
authors: Hak
authors: H
authors: Hotta
authors: Yoshitake
authors: Y
authors: Hayashi
keywords: HIV; Indonesia; co-infection; hepatitis B virus