HIV/HBV co-infection places patients at high risk of liver-related morbidity and mortality and the interaction of the two viruses can further complicate treatment. Pregnant women are especially at high risk for increased morbidity and mortality due to infection, and information about HIV/HBV co-infection in pregnant women is scanty. This study examined the occurrence of HBV antibodies in HIV-1 positive pregnant women and the relationship to Ante-retroviral therapy (ART) and other demographic characteristics. Blood samples were collected from 135 HIV pregnant positive women who were either on ART or Not, from May-June, 2008 at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and the Plateau State Specialist Hospital (PSSH). Presence of hepatitis B surface (HBsAg) antigen in serum was determined using Antec strips (Antec diagnostics UK) and their immunologic status were determined by measuring the CD4 + counts using SL_3 cyFlow counter (Partec, Germany). Sixteen 16 (11.8%) of the women examined were seropositive for Hepatitis B virus. Occupation was significantly associated with the prevalence of the hepatitis co-infection in the population examined (8.8% of house wives and 5.5% of business women had co-infection, p<0.05). The immunologic status (CD4 + of most of the HIV/HBV co-infected pregnant women (81.5%) was low (below 300 cells/mm 3) although all were on Anti retroviral therapy. The 11.8% prevalence rate reported in this study confirms the endemicity of HBV /HIV co-infection in Nigeria, and this supports the calls for screening for Hepatitis B as a routine in antenatal care.
Hepatitis B virus infection is a global public health issue. It can result in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver cirrhosis when not properly managed. The discovery of Hepatitis B vaccine and its incorporation into immunization programmes has brought a drastic decline in the incidence of both chronic and acute hepatitis B. However, this achievement is being confronted by cases of vaccine sub-optimal immune response, non-responsiveness and breakthrough infection which may be associated with the host’s genetic predisposition such as; ABO/Rhesus blood groups and hemoglobin genotype. The study aimed at investigating hepatitis B vaccines responsiveness (immunogenicity) and its association with the hosts’ ABO and Rhesus blood group among vaccinated subjects in Bauchi State Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional investigation comprising of 352 subjects of both sexes from age 1 year to 60 years. Out of the 352 subjects, 196 were vaccinated while 156 were unvaccinated. 5mL of blood samples were collected and analyzed for determination of both ABO and Rhesus blood group while the plasma part of the samples was tested for anti-HBs antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results revealed that 96(49.0%) of the vaccinated subjects had anti-HBs level ≥ 10 IU/L, 65(33.2%) had ≤ 10 IU/L and 35(17.9%) were non-responders while 26(16.7%) of the unvaccinated subjects had anti-HBs level ≥ 10 IU/L (P = 0.003). On the relationship between the ABO/Rhesus group and vaccine immunogenicity, blood group AB had 100% sub-optimal response while group B had 34.2% suboptimal response and 21% non-responders. Blood group A and O had the highest ≥ 10 IU/L antiHBs protective level of 52.8% and 50.0% respectively. However, there was no significant association between HBV vaccine responsiveness and hosts’ ABO/Rhesus. The protective rate against HBV infection was moderate. Nevertheless, some blood types had higher responses than others. Therefore, a considerable proportion of vaccinated persons should be considered for either booster doses or revaccination. Keywords: ABO; Hepatitis B Virus; Rhesus blood group; Vaccine Immunogenicity.
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