Hepatitis B Virus infection in blood donors of Argentina: prevalence of infection, genotype distribution and frequency of occult HBV infection.

PISANO MB,; BLANCO S,; CARRIZO H, ; RÉ VE,; GALLEGO S

ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY

SPRINGER WIEN

Lugar: Viena; Año: 2016

0304-8608

This study describes the prevalence of HBV infection based on detection of HBsAg and HBV-DNA by NAT in 70102 blood donors of Argentina (Córdoba province), and shows the viral genotype distribution and frequency of occult HBV infection (OBI) in this population. Forty two donors were confirmed positive for HBV infection (0.06%) and 4 (6/100,000) were OBI. Genotype F was the most prevalent (71.4%), followed by gt A (14.3%), C (7.1%) and D (7.1%). This study reports for the first time the prevalence of confirmed HBV infection and a high frequency of occult HBV infection in a blood bank in Argentina.