Author/Authors :
Gholami Parizad, E Dept. of Microbiology - Faculty of Medicine - Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam , Khosravi, A Dept. of Immunology - Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam , Gholami Parizad, E Dept. of Public Health - Ilam University of Medical Sciences,Ilam , Sadeghifard, N Clinical Microbiology Research Centre - Ilam university of Medical Sciences, Ilam , Ghafourian, S Clinical Dept. - Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam
Abstract :
Background: It is estimated that about 370 million people are chronic carriers of HBV worldwide. Apparently 3% of
Iranian populations are chronic carriers of this virus. We aimed to evaluate the viral DNA in biological fluids of chronic
hepatitis patients compared to a control group.
Methods: The current case–control study was designed to evaluate the viral DNA in biological fluids of 70 chronic
hepatitis patients compared to a control group using ELISA, PCR and Real Time.
Results: All individuals (100%) in case group were HBsAg positive while in control group only 2 individuals (2.8%)
were HBsAg positive. Three individuals , in control group were positive using PCR and Real Time PCR indicating that
about 7% of those in control group were chronic carriers of HBV. The interesting point was the copy of viral DNA;
(5.49 ×104, 2.162×103and 7.26×106) for 3 chronic carriers using sera while it was about (5.71×103, 1.45×102 and
2.56×105) using ear cerumen confirming the necessity of investigating for the carriers of HBV in different biological
fluid and by different methods.
Conclusion: It can be concluded chronic carriers of hepatitis B are much more than what is diagnosed by routine diagnostic
tests. On the other hand ELISA alone can not be relied on as a complete test for screening of chronic carriers in
hepatitis B. PCR and Real Time PCR are more reliable tests for this purpose.
Keywords :
Hepatitis B , HBsAg , Serum , Carrier , Ear cerumen
