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Epidemiology of hepatitis B and C virus infection in Central West Argentina

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Abstract

Little information is available regarding the prevalence of viral hepatitis in Central West Argentina. This study aims to give new information regarding HBV and HCV prevalence, genotypes, and risk factors in Central West Argentina and the suitability of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling for HBV and HCV screening. Methods: A total of 622 individuals were included; the mean age was 36.6 ± 14.3 years and 55.4% were females. HBV and HCV markers were detected using serological and molecular analysis, and risk factors were evaluated using statistical analysis. Results: Using serum samples, the HBsAg prevalence was 1.8%, the rate of HBV exposure (anti-HBc positivity) was 5.3%, and the rate of HBV immunity was 34.9%. HBV DNA was found in four out of 11 HBsAg+ samples, and the viruses in three of these samples were classified as genotypes A1, A2 and F2a. Multivariate analysis showed that anti-HBs positivity was associated with the level of schooling and history of HBV vaccination. The anti-HCV prevalence was 2.6%, and HCV RNA was found in 11 samples, seven of which contained viruses of genotypes 1a (n = 2), 1b (n = 3) and 2 (n = 2). The sensitivity of the DBS assay for HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HCV was 100%, 66.6%, and 75%, respectively, and the specificity was above 98% for all markers when compared to serum. Conclusion: A low rate of HBV immunity was observed, demonstrating the importance of HBV vaccination. High HCV prevalence was found, and HCV 1b was closely related to other Argentinian isolates. Finally, the performance of DBS testing in this population needs more optimization to increase its sensitivity and specificity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Elisangela Ferreira da Silva, Ana Carolina da Fonseca Mendonça and Cristiane Bezerra for technical assistance.

Funding

This research was supported by the Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Brazilian National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq), CAPES, MINCYT, CONICET.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Helio and Peggy Pereira Pavillion-Ground Floor-Room B09, FIOCRUZ Av. Brasil, Manguinhos, 4365, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 210360-040, Brazil

    Livia Melo Villar, Barbara Vieira do Lago, Juliana Custódio Miguel, Helena Medina Cruz, Moyra Machado Portilho & Vanessa Alves Marques

  2. Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Oswald Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Vanessa Salete de Paula

  3. Virology Section, Central Hospital Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina

    Roberto Pérez Ravier, Ivana Lo Castro, Héctor Cuello & Carlos Espul

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  1. Livia Melo Villar
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Correspondence to Livia Melo Villar.

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The authors disclose no actual or potential conflict of interest, including any financial, personal or other relationships with people or organisations, within two years of the beginning of this study that could inappropriately influence the study.

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This study was approved by the institutional review board of the Central Hospital of Mendoza.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Handling Editor: Linh Thuy Nguyen.

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Villar, L.M., de Paula, V.S., do Lago, B.V. et al. Epidemiology of hepatitis B and C virus infection in Central West Argentina. Arch Virol 165, 913–922 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-020-04540-7

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