Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus in human population of district Buner Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Abstract Hepatitis B Virus is partially double standard DNA virus. It is a species of the genus Orthohepadnavirus and a member of the viral family Hepadnaviridae. This virus induces chronic liver infection known as hepatitis B which can finally leads to liver damage. Viral hepatitis is contagious infection it may transmit via blood transfusion, parental routes, and contaminated body fluids like saliva and semen. The current study was designed to determine the burden of HBV infection among people belongs to different areas of district Buner Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 6137 samples were collected from January 2017 to March 2018 in different Tehsils of district Buner. All the samples were tested for Anti-HBV antibodies using ICT and positive samples were then subjected to PCR to confirm active cases. About 139 (2.26%) individuals were found positive for antibodies in their sera and 107 (1.74%) were reconfirmed as active infection via PCR. On gender-based study, highest prevalence of HBV was found in male population 1.66%, while maximum incidence of infection was found in age group 1 month to 15 years 2.83%. According to the current study, the prevalence rate of HBV infection was low in Buner as compare to other districts of KP. The decreasing rate of HBV infection in Buner indicates awareness among the population about HBV infection.