cqvip:Background/Aims: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection[HBV-DNA detection i n hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative individuals] may cause acute and /or chronic liver disease. The objective of this study was to document the preva lence of occult HBV in an isolated, North American Inuit community. Methods: Fou r hundred and eighty seven HBsAg negative sera (61%of the community population) were available for HBV-DNA testing by real time PCR. Of these, 80 (Group 1) had serologic evidence of resolved HBV infection and 407(Group 2) were HBV-seroneg ative. Results: HBV-DNA wasdetected in 14/80 (18%) and S-variants in 12/14 (8 6%) samples from Group 1. In Group 2, HBV-DNA was detected in 33/407(8.1%) an d S-variants in 17/33 (52%). In all cases (Groups 1 and 2) viral loads were lo w (< 105 viral copies/ml) and clinical or biochemical features did not distingui sh HBV-DNA positive from negative individuals. However, S-variants were more c ommon (P< 0.0001) in older age groups. Conclusions: The results of this study in dicate that in this community-based population;(1) the prevalence of occult HBV infection is 18%in those with serologic evidence of previous HBV infection and 8.1%in HBV seronegative individuals, (2) age, gender and liver biochemistry fi ndings do not identify those with occult HBV and (3) S-variants are present in the majority of individuals with occult HBV.
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