African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5233

Short Communication

Prevalence of asymptomatic hepatitis B virus surface antigenemia in children in Ilesha, Osun state, South-Western Nigeria

Donbraye, E.*
  • Donbraye, E.*
  • 1. Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; 3. Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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Japhet M.O.
  • Japhet M.O.
  • 2. Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; 3. Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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Adesina, A. O.
  • Adesina, A. O.
  • 2. Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; 3. Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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Abayomi, O. A.
  • Abayomi, O. A.
  • Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
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  •  Received: 12 October 2011
  •  Accepted: 26 May 2014
  •  Published: 04 June 2014

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa with a range of 8 to 20% prevalence of chronic carriers. Most HBV infections occur early in life by perinatal transmission from the mother to her newborn baby, and horizontal transmission from child to child resulting from blood contact. This study was therefore carried out to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus surface antigenemia (HBsAg) in children born in Ilesha, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. A total of 144 children at age range 21 days to 13 years were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Ilesha using Bio-Rad Monolisa HBsAg Ultra kit [enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), ELISA method]. Twenty (13.9%) children were seropositive for HBsAg. The age bracket 1-5 years had the highest number of children and the highest number of HBsAg positive cases (15.8%). Female children had a higher HBsAg antigenemia of 15.4% compared to 12.7% for the male children. High prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was found among the children. Focus should be re-intensified on childhood vaccination and information dissemination on the risk and mode of transmission of HBV. Women especially, should be educated on HBV to prevent Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the infection.

 

Key words: Children, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis B virus surface antigenemia (HBsAg), Nigeria.

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