Philippe Salomon NGUWOH1*, Patrice ZANGA OLINGA2 , Danielle Régine TAMBA BILOA3 , Christian TAHEU NGOUNOUH4, Fredy Herbert NJIMBAM MOULIOM5 , Junior Michael CHADOU PIAMEU6, Gilbert NGUEPIDJO7, Abel Fils NKOTH8, Julienne Louise EKODI6, Anne Esther NJOM NLEND9 , Joseph FOKAM10
1National Public Health Laboratory ; 2Nkomo Medical Health District Center ; 3Higher Institute of Health Professions, Yaoundé ; 4Institute of Science and Technology Applied to Health, Yaoundé ; 5promoters of good health Clinic; 6School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaoundé ; 7Medical and Health Technicians School of Yaoudé ; 8General Hospital of Yaoundé ; 9National Insurance Fund Welfare Hospital, Yaoundé ; 10Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management, Yaoundé
CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , OSEP077
Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are major public health concerns in Cameroon and requires high priority efforts towards prevention and control. Of note, HBV/HIV co-infection is likely to result in chronic liver disease with rapid progression to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality.
Objectif: determine the seroprevalence of HBV infection and the profile of related biomarkers according to HIV status among Cameroonian children
Methodology: A comparative, prospective, cross-sectional study conducted from the 13th of February to the 07thof April, 2017 among 89 children attending the Essos Hospital Center, Yaoundé – Cameroon, stratified according HIV status: HIV- infected (46) and uninfected (43). Samples were analyzed, using the lateral flow immunochromatographic assay for the simultaneous detection of HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBsAb, HBeAg, anti-HBeAb and total anti-HBcAb); confirmed with ELISA. Statistical analysis data was performed by using Epi Info software.v7.1.2.0 and SPSS.v20, with p <0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: In the total of children enrolled, 48.32% (43) were female and the median was 8 [IQR:5-12] years). Overall, the seroprevalence of HBV infection (HBsAg) was 2.25% (2/89). Interestingly, only the age range 1-5 and 11-15 years were carriers of HBsAg with 4% (1/25) and 3.33% (1/30) respectively (p=0.06). Furthermore, prevalence of HBsAg was higher among HIV-infected with 4.35% (2/46) vs 0% (0/43) in HIV-uninfected children, p=0.50. Rates of HBsAb was inversely associated to age (p=0.002), while HBeAg was related with age (p=0.0029). Moreover, rate of HbsAb was 25.58% (11/43) in HIV-uninfected children compared to 19.57% (9/46) in their infected peers.
Conclusion/Recommandation:Although the prevalence of HBV is generally low in children attending the Essos Hospital Center (classified as an intermediate-burden), HBV burden appears higher among HIV infected children. HBV severity appears increasing with children age, thus supporting a close monitoring of HBV infected children, especially if co-infected with HIV.
Key Words: Seroprevalence, HBV markers, HIV, Children, EHC.