Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, P.O. Box 9004, Saudi Arabia - Department of Blood Products Quality Control and Research, National Organization for Research and Control of Biologicals, Cairo, Egypt.
2
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, P.O. Box 9004, Saudi Arabia
3
Blood Bank, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia
4
- Blood Bank, Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia - Department of Hematology, Teshreen Hospital, Damascus, Syria
5
Blood Bank, Abha General Hospital, Abha , Saudi Arabia
6
- Department of Microbiology, National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR), Cairo, Egypt
7
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia 11566, Cairo, Egyp
Abstract
Viral hepatitis is one of the major problem
worldwide. The detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg),
antibodies to HBV core antigen (HBc-Ab), and HBV-DNA in donated blood in Aseer
Region (Southern part of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) to detect prevention of the
residual risk of transfusion transmitted HBV, donors in window period of HBV
infection and the prevalence of HBV infection was attempted. The study was
conducted on random blood samples collected from healthy blood donor
volunteers, who were referred to blood transfusion centers found at Aseer region,
during the period from March 2012 to January 2013. All the collected blood
units were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBc,
hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2, human
T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) I/II, venereal disease research laboratory
(VDRL), and malaria. All donated blood samples were checked for HBV-DNA,
HCV-RNA, and HIV-RNA by nucleic acid test (NAT) technology. Of 6698 (19 females
(0.28%) and 6679 males (99.72)) blood donors screened, with median age of 28
(female) and 30 years (males), 69 (1.03%) were HBsAg positive of them 64 (0.96)
were positive to HBV-DNA, 411 (6.14%) were anti-HBc positive of them 73 (1.09%)
were positive to HBV-DNA. Cases positive to both HBsAg and HBc-Ab were 68 (1.02%)
of them 63 (0.94%) were positive to HBV-DNA. All HBsAg and HBc-Ab positive
cases were shown to be among male volunteers. In conclusion, prevalence of
HBsAg in Asser region is very low. The rate of HBc-Ab in units of blood
donation is relatively high. The presence of HBV-DNA in HBc-Ab positive
donations makes it risky for use. Vaccination program against HBV decreased the
rate of HBV transmission.
Keywords
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