COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CO-INFECTION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND BLOOD GROUP AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING SAINT LUKE HOSPITAL WUSASA, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE

Abstract

HBV is a hepatotropic virus that belongs to the Hepadnaviridae family. The viral genome is a DNA of about 3.2 Kb that has four overlapping open reading frames (ORFs): S, X, P,and C. The S/preS ORF encodes the three form of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg): long (HBsAg-L), medium (HBsAg-M) and small (HBsAg-S). The regulatory protein X (HBx) is transcribed from X ORF; the P ORF encodes the viral DNA polymerase; and the C ORF encodes the core protein (HBcAg) and a related protein called which is the precursor of the secreted protein known as antigen e (HBeAg)(GHSS,2021). The diagnosis of HBV infection is established by detection of the molecular and serologic markers: viral DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBe and anti-HBc (IgM and total antibodies) (Table 1).Four routes of transmission have been described: (1) parenteral, i.e., by transfusion, reused syringes and needles and contact of blood; (2) sexual; (3) vertical; (4) horizontal, i.e., by contact with body fluids, such as saliva, shared toothbrushes and secretory skin lesions(Illiam,2017).In high endemic areas (Africa and Southeast Asia), HBV infection is acquired predominantly during the perinatal period or in early childhood (Borgia,2012). Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are responsible for the most common chronic viral infections worldwide. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection is higher among people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compared to the general population due to the common trans-mission routes and the overlap of behavioral risk factors for these viruses.1Guidelines for the clinical management of HIV patients recommend testing for infection markers for viral hepatitis, and clinical evidence shows that co-infections are associated with worse prognosis of the liver disease(Soriano,2011). The main aim of this study is to determine prevalence of hepatitis coinfection with Blood group among patients attending Saint Luke Hospital Wusasa Zaria. The Study only be limited to prevalence of hepatitis co-infected with blood group in the Study area.