“Prevalence of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Assiut University Students”

Background: In Egypt, the population prevalence rate for HBV is 1.4% in adults aged 15-59years old. Higher prevalence is found in Upper Egypt (mostly in Aswan, Assiut and Minya). Objective: The aim of our study is to demonstrate prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) among randomly selected sample of Assiut University students, Egypt. Study design and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the period between April 2019 and September 2019,on 200 students, age range from 17 to 27 years old at Assiut University, Egypt, were randomly selected during the routine checkup and enrolled in the study for biological testing of HBV. Results: Prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection in college students is 1.5% (2 males and one female). There was a highly significant difference between mean of HBV DNA PCR +ve students and mean of HBV DNA PCR in –ve ones (p <0.001). Prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody in OBI students is –ve in all students ( 100% ). There was a highly significant difference between mean of ALT in OBI students and mean of ALT of negative ones (p <0.001). Risk factors associated with OBI students in this study included the use of shaving blades, barber visit, sharing shaving blades, dental visit, sharing nail clipper and surgery. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection among college students in Assiut University, Egypt is 1.5%.