Long-term Impact of Primary Hepatitis B Prevention on Egyptian Blood Donors: A 20-Year Follow-Up After Perinatal Vaccination | ||||
| Bulletin of Faculty of Science, Zagazig University | ||||
| Article 12, Volume 2025, Issue 2, June 2025, Page 143-153 PDF (1.13 MB) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/bfszu.2024.320804.1428 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Reem Elmaghloub1; Ashraf Elbahrawy2; gamal eldidamony3; Ahmed Askora  4
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| 1Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt | ||||
| 2Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt | ||||
| 3Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Egypt | ||||
| 4Botany and microbiology department,Faculty of science,Zagazig University | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term persistence of antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) and the incidence of HBV breakthrough infections in a cohort of Egyptian blood donors, 20 years following their primary vaccination. The study involved 1,500 blood donors, all of whom were born after 1992 and had undergone routine hepatitis B vaccination. Anti-HBs levels were determined using a quantitative immunoassay, and the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as well as antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were assessed. For donors who tested positive for anti-HBc and/or HBsAg (n=8), further analysis of HBV DNA was conducted through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results indicated that the mean age of the participants was 20.02 ± 1.93 years, with 61% (916) being male. A significant portion of the cohort, 66.6% (999 donors), had anti-HBs levels below the protective threshold of 10 mIU/ml, with an average anti-HBs level of 33.1 ± 112.4 mIU/ml across the entire group. Additionally, eight donors (0.5%) were identified as having prior HBV exposure, as evidenced by positive anti-HBc results. Of these, seven had anti-HBs levels lower than 10 mIU/ml. Notably, one donor (12.5%) among those positive for anti-HBc exhibited signs of active HBV infection, as demonstrated by the presence of both HBsAg and detectable HBV DNA. In conclusion, 66.6% of the vaccinated blood donors exhibited non-protective anti-HBs levels two decades post-vaccination, suggesting a marked decline in immunity over time. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Hepatitis B vaccination; Anti-HBs persistence; HBV breakthrough infection; Long-term immunity | ||||
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