DISTRIBUTION OF FIVE HEPATITIS B VIRUS MARKERS IN HIV INFECTED AND UNINFECTED INJECTING DRUG USERS IN COASTAL KENYA

Aims: This study determined HBV sero-markers profile in HIV-1 infected (n=157) and uninfected (n=214) IDUs from Mombasa, Kenya HIV-1 diagnosis was performed using Determine^TM and Unigold^TM rapid tests. 
Methodology: The CD4+ T cells were enumerated using the FacsCalibur flow cytometer and categorized according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunological staging criteria.  HBV seroprofile was determined using HBV-5 panel rapid test cassettes.  Clinical staging was based on serological profile of the five HBV markers. 
Results: HBsAg (P=0.004) and HBcAb-IgM (P=0.008) positivities were higher in the HIV-1 infected compared to the uninfected individuals while the opposite was observed for HBsAb positivity (P=0.019).  Rates of acute (P=0.033) and chronic (P=0.021) clinical stages were higher in the HIV-1 infected compared to the uninfected individuals but the inverse was noticed for vaccine type response rate (P=0.008).  Only genotype A, sub-genotype A1 was detected with higher frequencies noted in the HIV-1 infected (n=12) compared to the uninfected (n=4) individuals.  
Conclusion: HBsAg and HBcAb-IgM sero-markers and acute and chronic clinical categories are higher while HBsAb sero-marker and vaccine type response stage are lower in HIV-1 infected compared to uninfected IDUs at Mombasa, Kenya. Taken together, HIV infected injection drug users are at risk of acquiring HBV and progressing to chronic infection.