title: Hepatitis B virus infection among institutionalized mentally ill patients in Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective was to evaluate HBV infection and occult HBV infection (OBI) cases in mentally ill patients based on serological and molecular profiles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples of 333 long-stay mentally ill patients were tested for the prevalence of HBV markers by serological (ELISA) and molecular (PCR) assays. The PCR products were sequenced to determine viral genotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed a global prevalence of 12.9% (43/333) for HBV infection markers, considering HBsAg and/or anti-HBc positivity. Fourteen samples tested positive for anti-HBs alone. All samples positive (n=57) for any HBV serological markers were tested for HBV-DNA and six were positive: HBsAg/anti-HBc (n=1), anti-HBc/anti-HBs (n=1), anti-HBs alone (n=1), and anti-HBc alone (n=3). The rate of OBI was 9.2% (5/54) from samples that were anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs positive. All sequenced samples were characterized as genotype A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high rate of HBV infections found in this study suggests the possibility of HBV transmission due to risk factors displayed by some patients, and highlights the importance of vaccination of susceptible patients and the staff of that institution.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiane Cinquini
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabíola Souza
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Fiaccadori
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Menira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tâmera Nunes Vieira
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marielton dos Passos
authors.initials: Mdos P
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ítalo de Araújo
authors.initials: Íde A
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil. Electronic address: dcardoso@ufg.br.
authors.forename: Divina das Dôres de Paula
authors.initials: Dd
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Mental illness; Occult infection; Prevalence