Maternal Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Serologic Markers among Attendees of a Secondary Health Facility in Maiduguri, Nigeria
S. O. Oyinloye *
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
M. Osunkwo
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
B. Taki-Mohd
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria
B. B. Ajayi
Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
M. A. Lawan
Department of Immunology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The profile of four hepatitis B virus markers [Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) class against the hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc), Hepatitis B surface antibody (Anti-HBs) and Hepatitis B envelop antigen (HBeAg)] among pregnant women (n=91), with mean age of 25.96 years, were determined using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. A significant (p=0.00001) overall sero-prevalence of 8.79%, 36.26%, 6.59% and 7.65% were observed for HBsAg, Anti-HBs, IgM anti-HBc and HBeAg respectively. Forty seven point three percent were susceptible (HBsAg -Ve, IgM anti-HBc -ve and anti-HBs-ve) to hepatitis B virus infection. One of thirteen pregnant women tested positive for HBsAg and HBeAg; this portends high risk of transmission to the fetus. This result portrays the unreliability of using presence of HBsAg as the sole marker for hepatitis B virus infection, high susceptibility to hepatitis B virus infection and the risk of transmission of HBV to fetuses.
Keywords: Hepatitis B surface antigen, antibodies of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) class against the hepatitis B core antigen, hepatitis B surface antibody, hepatitis B envelop antigen, sero-prevalence