Hepatitis B virus drug resistance mutations in HIV/HBV co-infected children in Windhoek, Namibia

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus among highly active antiretroviral therapy experienced children in Gondar, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Globally, chronic viral hepatitis is the cause of mortality alongside human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and tuberculosis. Published reports on the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among HIV-infected children are lacking in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-experienced children at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

METHODS

We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among HAART-experienced children from January to May 2020. We collected the socio-demographic characteristics of study participants with pretested questioners and clinical data from medical records. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based laboratory test for serum hepatitis B surface antigens and anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies. Finally, we analyzed the frequency of all variables, determined the association of independent variables with hepatitis B and C viruses by using univariable and then multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 241 HAART-experienced children were enrolled, 49.8% of whom were girls. The median age of participants was 13 years (interquartile range 11-14). The seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among HAART-experienced children were 9.5% and 2.9%, respectively. Being underweight was significantly associated with both hepatitis B virus (AOR = 3.87: 95% CI; 1.04-14.46, P = 0.044) and hepatitis C virus infections (AOR = 4.54: 95% CI; 1.21-17.04, P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the magnitude of hepatitis B and C viruses was high among HIV-infected children who were under HAART and did not know their hepatitis B and C infection status before. Being underweight was associated with both hepatitis viruses. Therefore, screening for hepatitis B and C viruses should be a routine measure for all HIV-infected children.

Microbiota-Meditated Immunity Abnormalities Facilitate Hepatitis B Virus Co-Infection in People Living With HIV: A Review

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection is fairly common in people living with HIV (PLWH) and affects millions of people worldwide. Identical transmission routes and HIV-induced immune suppression have been assumed to be the main factors contributing to this phenomenon. Moreover, convergent evidence has shown that people co-infected with HIV and HBV are more likely to have long-term serious medical problems, suffer more from liver-related diseases, and have higher mortality rates, compared to individuals infected exclusively by either HIV or HBV. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the comorbid infection of HIV and HBV have not been fully elucidated. In recent times, the human gastrointestinal microbiome is progressively being recognized as playing a pivotal role in modulating immune function, and is likely to also contribute significantly to critical processes involving systemic inflammation. Both antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-infected subjects and ART-treated individuals are now known to be characterized by having gut microbiomic dysbiosis, which is associated with a damaged intestinal barrier, impaired mucosal immunological functioning, increased microbial translocation, and long-term immune activation. Altered microbiota-related products in PLWH, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), have been associated with the development of leaky gut syndrome, favoring microbial translocation, which in turn has been associated with a chronically activated underlying host immune response and hence the facilitated pathogenesis of HBV infection. Herein, we critically review the interplay among gut microbiota, immunity, and HIV and HBV infection, thus laying down the groundwork with respect to the future development of effective strategies to efficiently restore normally diversified gut microbiota in PLWH with a dysregulated gut microbiome, and thus potentially reduce the prevalence of HBV infection in this population.