title: Hepatitis B surface antibodies in medical students from a public university in Puebla, Mexico.
abstract: Although preventable with vaccination, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health concern, with ∼400 million people at risk of developing the chronic form of the disease worldwide. The anti-HBV vaccine consists of a recombinant HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), which induces specific anti-HBs antibodies and confers 95% protection for >20 y. The aim of the present study was to analyze the response to HBV vaccination by measuring anti-HBs antibodies in serum samples from medical students of a public university in Puebla, Mexico. HBV infection markers HBsAg and anti-HBs, were also determined. A total of 201 students were included and vaccination coverage was found at 54%. Overall seropositivity for HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs determined by ELISA was 0.5%, 1.0% and 47%, respectively. Protective levels of anti-HBs >10 mIU/mL were found in 93.2% of subjects vaccinated with 2 or 3 doses and in 40% of those vaccinated with a single dose; while only 4.8% of unvaccinated subjects were anti-HBs positive. The response to the HBV vaccine was different in each participant, despite similar vaccination scheme. A history of blood transfusion/organ transplant or more than 2 sexual partners was significantly associated with anti-HBc positivity, OR = 399 (p = 0.010) and OR = 19.9 (p = 0.044), respectively. HBV immunization coverage was low in our sample compared with reports from countries with similar HBV prevalence, but anti-HBs in vaccinated individuals were in the expected range. It is important to promote HBV vaccination and awareness among medical students, due to their exposure risk.
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Agentes Biológicos , Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: María Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cárdenas-Perea
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Agentes Biológicos , Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gómez-Conde
authors.affiliation: b Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Virología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social , Metepec, Atlixco , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santos-López
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Agentes Biológicos , Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pérez-Contreras
authors.affiliation: c Departamento de Inmunología , Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) , Puebla, Puebla , México.
authors.forename: María Alicia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Díaz-Orea
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Agentes Biológicos , Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: José Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gándara-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Agentes Biológicos , Facultad de Medicina, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: Othón Rafael
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Cruz Y López
authors.affiliation: b Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Virología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social , Metepec, Atlixco , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Márquez-Domínguez
authors.affiliation: b Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Virología, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social , Metepec, Atlixco , Puebla , México.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sosa-Jurado
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013337:Students, Medical; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
keywords: HBsAg; anti-HBc; anti-HBs; hepatitis B virus; recombinant vaccine HBV; vaccination; vaccination coverage HBV