Epidemiology, verification, and prevention of chronic hepatitis B virus infection among blood donors and HIV-positive patients: a review

This review presents current aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and prevention of viral hepatitis B with an emphasis on the laboratory profile of its latent form. Data on infection rates in household clusters across different regions are presented: 30% in the Republic of Uzbekistan and 78% in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), confirming the risk of intrafamilial transmission. Trends in hepatitis B incidence in the Republic of Tatarstan were analyzed in the context of mass vaccination, showing a decline in 2023 compared with 2011. Data on the prevalence of serologic markers of hepatitis B among blood donors and HIV-positive patients are presented for both the Russian Federation and other countries. According to data from the Federal Medical-Biological Agency for 2015–2019, hepatitis B virus markers were detected in 49.8% ± 8.2% of blood donors in the Russian Federation and in 83% of donors in the Republic of Guinea. Additionally, the frequency of anti-HBcor detection in the absence of HBsAg among donors ranged from 0% (United Kingdom) to 48% (China), and from 6% to 21% in some regions of Russia. Screening of HIV-positive patients for hepatitis B virus infection revealed a widespread presence of its markers across various regions worldwide. The prevalence ranged from 2.3% to 32.3% in African countries, up to 12% in Colombia, 3.2% in Argentina and 3.8% in Brazil. In the Russian Federation, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among HIV-positive patients was 9.4% in the Republic of Tyva and reached 79.6% in the Northwestern Federal District. Particular attention is given to the latent form of hepatitis B in HIV-positive patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy, including regimens containing agents active against hepatitis B virus.