Seroprevalence of HBV infection and viral loads in outpatients attending a district hospital located in Mardan, Pakistan

Abstract Hepatitis B is a major public health problem in Pakistan like other developing countries. HBV infection is a more contagious disease than HCV and HIV infection. The aim of the current study is to compare seroprevalence of HBV infection in outpatients who attended a district headquarter hospital of district Mardan, Pakistan. A total number of 270 patients were selected for this research work. Serum of patients were tested by HBsAg and ICT strip method and those found positive were sent to GCMBDR to confirmed for HBV DNA by Real Time PCR. Out of the total 270 screened patients, HBV DNA was confirmed in 94(34.81%) patients using Real Time PCR of which 56(59.6%) were male while 38(40.4%) were female outpatients. All the positive patients were divided into three categories on the bases of viral load categories such as low ( 10,000,000 IU/ml). On the bases of these categories 50 %( n=47) patients were found with low viral load, 33 %( n=31) with intermediate and 17 %( n=16) were found having high viral load. Female patients were slightly more susceptible to HBV infection compared to male patients. The highest HBV infection seroprevalence was found in patients of 21-40 age group. Majority of the sick subjects were however seen with low viral titers.