PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS IN SOUTHERN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN USING REAL TIME PCR
Main Article Content
Keywords
Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Real Time PCR, Southern Punjab, Viral Load, Hepatitis B virus
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can lead to the early onset of severe and prolonged liver infections that result in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in infected individuals. These infections are a global concern especially for developing countries like Pakistan. This study targeted local population of densely populated city Multan, Southern Punjab, who were found seropositive for hepatic infections, viz, hepatitis B (HBV). Accordingly, 176 seropositive samples (124 male and 52 female) were confirmed via Real time PCR. The Real time PCR detected and confirmed viral DNA in 81.8% (144) samples while remaining were negative. In case of male population, 105 individuals were positive, having high viral load in 4/105, moderate viral load in 78/105 and low viral load in remaining 23 individuals. In female population, among 39 positive cases, 3 females were found having high viral load, 31 having moderate and 5 with low viral load. High viral load could be related with the emergence of serious liver disease in both genders. The prevalence of HBV was significantly higher in <25 years age-group than 26-50 years and 51-75 years age groups (P<0.05). The Southern Punjab population of Pakistan has a high prevalence rate of HBV due to lower literacy rate, lack of effective blood screening facilities, poverty, and ignorance regarding HBV risk factors. The high frequency of HBV-infection in the studied area is of concern and highlights the need for adopting proper preventative measures. It is proposed that more initiatives should be taken to educate the general population and training of health care workers regarding the adverse outcomes for HBV and how it transmits.
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Ghazala Shaheen
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Mudassar Mohiuddin
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
kinza khan
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Atia Iqbal
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences, The Women University Multan, Pakistan
Hafiz Muhammad Imran
Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Muhammad Khalid Mansoor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Rubaida Mehmood
Department of Diagnostic section (Labs), MINAR Cancer Hospital, Multan, Pakistan.
Muhammad Yaqoob
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King Edward Medical University / Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
Tayyaba Asghar
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan