Serological pattern of hepatitis B virus among HBsAg negative blood donors in Alexandria, Egypt

This study in Alexandria, Egypt was conducted to investigate the distribution of different hepatitis B virus [HBV] markers in apparently healthy blood donors who were hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] negative, and to determine the major independent risk factors. Evidence of past exposure to HBV was found in 148/508 screened donors [29.1%]. The most prevalent marker was anti-HBc in 124/508 donors [24.4%], half of whom [63/124] showed anti-HBc only. Anti-HBs prevalence was 15.9%, combined anti-HBc and antiHBs was 12.0% and anti-HBe was 5.7%. Independent risk factors associated with the presence of at least 1 marker were: being married [OR 3.82], history of blood transfusion [OR 3.04] and parenteral antibilharzial treatment [OR 2.49]. Receiving a full HBV vaccination schedule was reported by 39 donors, but only 1 of them had isolated anti-HBs. The relatively high prevalence of HBV exposure necessitates solid infection control measures and adult vaccination programme awareness

Behcet disease: clinical spectrum and association with hepatitis B and C viruses

We studied 48 patients with Behcet disease to determine the clinical spectrum of the disease. We also compared the seropositivity of patients for hepatitis B [HBV] and C [HCV] infection with a healthy control group to.determine whether there is an association. The major physical findings were oral aphthosis 93.8%, genital aphthosis 77.1% and ocular manifestations 64.6%. No patients were HCV antibody seropositive, but 3 of the control group [3.1%] tested seropositive. One patient [2.1%] and 2 in the control group [2.1%] tested positive for both HBV surface antigen and HBV core antibody. The differences were not statistically significant. There is, therefore, no case for recommending viral screening for HBV and HCV in Behcet disease patients at present

Long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in Egyptian children

In 1992, Egypt adopted a hepatitis B vaccine schedule at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. We evaluated the long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccination using this schedule in 180 children whose time lapse since last vaccination varied between 1 month and 5 years. None of the participants had clinical hepatitis, HBsAg was not detected in any participant and all but one had negative results for anti-HBc test. Although a high seroprotection rate [93.3%] was elicited 1 month after vaccination, there were low initial anti-HBs concentrations and both declined rapidly over time. Thus, the short interval [2 months] between the second and third doses of vaccine is less desirable in the long term. We recommend booster inoculations for all previously vaccinated children and a new vaccination schedule at 1, 2 and 9 months