title: Genotype characterization of occult hepatitis B virus strains among Egyptian chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection combined with occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been associated with increased risk of hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of occult HBV infection among Egyptian chronic HCV patients, the genotype and occurrence of surface gene mutations of HBV and the impact of co-infection on early response to treatment. The study enrolled 162 chronic HCV patients from Ismailia Fever Hospital, Egypt, who were HBV surface antigen-negative. All patients were given clinical assessment and biochemical, histological and virological examinations. HBV-DNA was detectable in sera from 3 patients out of the 40 patients who were positive for hepatitis B core antibody. These 3 patients were responsive to combination therapy at treatment week 12; only 1 of them had discontinued therapy by week 24. HBV genotype D was the only detectable genotype in those patients, with absence of "a" determinant mutations among those isolates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kishk
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: H Aboul
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Atta
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragheb
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamel
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Metwally
authors.affiliation: Department of Endemic and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nemr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b