title: Occult hepatitis B virus infection among hepatitis C virus seropositive and seronegative blood donors in Alexandria, Egypt.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI, serum hepatitis B surface antigen negative but hepatitis B virus DNA positive) is an emerging problem in the safety of blood transfusion. The introduction of hepatitis B surface antigen in the screening panel for blood bank donors has substantially reduced, but not entirely eliminated, the risk of hepatitis B virus infection. It has been suggested that infection with hepatitis C virus may inhibit hepatitis B virus replication. Therefore, this study aimed at estimating the prevalence and risk factors for OBI among blood donors and determining its relationship with hepatitis C virus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Presence of hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis C virus RNA was investigated for among 508 hepatitis B surface antigen-negative blood donors in Alexandria, Egypt. Half of the donors were identified as hepatitis C virus antibody reactive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OBI was detected in 21 donors (4.1%) from the studied population: eight were among hepatitis C virus antibody positive donors (3.2%), among whom seven (33.3%) had hepatitis C virus RNA in their serum, and 13 (5.1%) were among hepatitis C virus antibody negative donors, with no statistically significant difference. The only significant risk factor for OBI among the studied blood donors was visiting local barbers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OBI is a considerable risk in blood banks, making screening for hepatitis B virus infection only on the basis of surface antigenemia insufficient.
authors.affiliation: aTropical Health Department bMicrobiology Department, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Engy M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: El-Ghitany
authors.forename: Azza G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Farghaly
authors.forename: Mona H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hashish
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004534:Egypt; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral