title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C infection among the HIV-positive population in Abuja, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Nigeria, it is estimated that 3.6% of the population were living with Human immunodeficiency virus in 2009, and the country had the world's second highest number of HIV/AIDS related deaths after South Africa. Viral hepatitis is also a major public health concern as hepatitis B virus (HBV) afflicts an estimated 350 million people, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects 150 million people worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a retrospective study of HBV and HCV seroprevalence among Nigerian population coming to our clinic in Abuja and receiving HIV/AIDS treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cohort study, we collected medical data from 443 HIV-positive patients between September 2010 and May 2011. Standard enzyme immunoassays were used to determine the serological prevalence of hepatitis B (HBsAg) and C (anti-HCV antibody) among HIV-positive individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the HIV/AIDS positive individuals, we found that 35 patients were infected with hepatitis B virus (7.9%), 10 with hepatitis C virus (2.3%) and 3 with both hepatitis B and C viruses (0.7%). The overall hepatitis-HIV prevalence is 10.8%. The majority of the population infected was under 39 years of age (55%) and the same proportion of males and females was observed in all the studied categories (HIV, HIV + hepatitis B and/or C). Remarkably, an overall lower CD4 count was seen in the co-infected population (205 cells/µl versus 243 cells/µl), with the lowest seen for the triply infected individuals (97 cells/µl).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings underscore the importance of screening for hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in the HIV-infected population in developing countries, and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the epidemics are still growing.
authors: Gede Foundation, 13 Danube Street, Abuja, Nigeria. a_tremeau_bravard@hotmail.com
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tremeau-Bravard
authors: I C
authors: IC
authors: Ogbukagu
authors: C J
authors: CJ
authors: Ticao
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: Abubakar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000276:immunology*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Nigeria; cohort study
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