The prevalence of viral hepatitis B and C in Azerbaijan is 3.2% and 4.3%. The overall incidence of occult hepatitis B (OGB) has not been previously studied. The aim of this study is to diagnose and assess the prevalence of hidden form of viral hepatitis B among blood donors in Azerbaijan. Methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the Central blood Bank and included 512 persons who applied in December 2018 for blood donation. In addition to standard tests for HBsAg and anti-HCV, specific immunoglobulin to the nuclear antigen of hepatitis b virus (anti-HBcIgG) has also been investigated. Patients with marker negative HBsAg and a positive test result for anti-HBcIgG, additional markers of VGB, such as anti-HBcIgM, anti-HBs, Noad anti-HBe, and DNA VGB were investigated. Results. Of 512 donors, 14 (2.7%) had viral hepatitis B and 17 (3.3%) had viral hepatitis C. of the remaining 462 individuals, a positive anti-HBcIgG test was detected in 43 (9.3%), of which 7 (16.3%) had a detectable viral load. The average viral load was 213 IU/ml in the study of 17 patients with viral hepatitis C, anti-HBcIgG was detected in 10 (37%), of which 2 (20%) revealed viral load of HGB DNA (average HGB DNA was 267 IU/ml). The presence of mutations has been described in the pre-S1, pre-S2 and S regions of the HBsAg gene, leading to non-determination of HBsAg by standard enzyme immunoassay. The presence of anti-HBc antibodies in serum is an important key to tracking the OGB, although about 20% of OGB cases are negative for antibodies against HBc. Viral load below 200 IU/ml was determined for the diagnosis of OGB, but interestingly, in more than 90% of patients with OGB, the viral load in serum is about 20 IU/ml. Since the presence of untreated OGB increases the risk of liver cancer, both in the presence of HCV and without it, diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent further complications. For the timely implementation of preventive and anti-epidemic measures, it is necessary to conduct an additional examination of persons in whose blood anti-HBcIgG is detected. Otherwise, the use of blood from donors with occult hepatitis B increases the risk of infection with blood transfusions and promotes the circulation of the virus in the population. Conclusion. Among the donors of the Central Blood Bank of Azerbaijan, the detection rate of DNA in HGB was 1.5% among donors with negative viral markers and 7.4% of donors with hepatitis C detected. In spite of the low viral load, the presence of HGB DNA can cause a state of acute hepatitis B. Therefore, it is considered rational to expand the panel of screening markers of hepatitis B virus (HGB) with the inclusion of anti-HBcIgG.
«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine» Issue 1 Part 1 (148), 2019 year, 86-88 pages, index UDK 614.4:616.9
