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Journal of Microbiology: Current Research | Volume 2

November 01-02, 2018 | London, UK

European

Clinical Microbiology Congress

International Conference on

Ophthalmology and Eye Disorder

Joint Event

Occult hepatitis B infection, a real challenge for low incoming countries

Bivigou Mboumba Berthold

Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Gabon

ccult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined as the presence

of low level of HBV DNA in the serum and/or hepatic cells

without HBsAg in the serum. These patients are at risk for

HBV reactivation in immunosuppressed stat or in treatment

of cancers and autoimmune diseases. This reactivation can

lead to fulminant hepatitis B form, or high level of hepatic

injury. The transmission of OBI may appear mainly in blood

transfusion context. In HCV endemic area like in sub-Saharan

countries, OBI could be responsible for the acceleration of

chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) progression and interfere with

treatment response. The prevalence of HBOs varies from

1 to 87%, depending on studied population, the sensitivity

of the tests uses for diagnostic and the nature of the sample

used. OBI is significantly associated with the endemicity of

HBV infection, but is not limited to hyper-endemic countries

for HBV. OBI may appear in many different clinical conditions

such as: a) transmission by blood transfusion and mainly liver

transplantation, causing typical hepatitis B in newly infected

individuals; b) the development of an immunosuppressive

status may induce OBI reactivation and development of acute

and sometimes fulminant hepatitis; c) a large body of data

suggests that OBI can contribute to the progression of the

chronic liver disease toward cirrhosis, in particular in HCV-

infected patients and d) much evidence suggests that OBI can

be involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.

The diagnostic of this infection is only possible by using high

sensitive and specific PCR technic with a low limit of detection

(LLOD <10 IU/mL). However, this technic reminds a challenge in

low and middle incoming countries like sub-Saharan countries

where HBV prevalence is high. Propositions of molecular

diagnostic of OBI in sub-Saharan countries are in exploration by

African researchers.

Clinical Microbiology and Eye 2018, Volume 2

DOI: 10.4066/2591-8036-C1-003