title: Co-infections with hepatitis B and C viruses in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Morocco.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major public health concerns. We aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections among HIV-infected patients, and to identify the main circulating hepatitis strains in Morocco. The study was carried out in 503 HIV-infected patients. Our survey indicated that the prevalence of HIV/hepatitis co-infection was 10.6%; 5.2% of patients were HBV surface antigen positive, and 5.4% of patients were anti-HCV positive. Among the HBV surface antigen-positive group, HBV DNA sequencing identified exclusively genotype D (D1: 26.7%; D7: 73.3%) in accordance with what is found in the general population. In contrast, sequencing of HCV isolates produced an unusual subtype distribution with a decreasing order of prevalence: 1a, 3a (both 23.5%), 1b, 4a (both 17.6%), 1c (11.8%) and 6h (6%).
authors.affiliation: Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rebbani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ouladlahsen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bensghir
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akil
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lamdini
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Issouf
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brahim
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kitab
authors.forename: F Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Fakhir
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wakrim
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marhoum El Filali
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Himmich
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ezzikouri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benjelloun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Chronic hepatitis; co-infection; genotype; human immunodeficiency virus; prevalence