Prevalence of Hepatitis Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To provide an overview on hepatitis virus infection.
- To examine the prevalence of hepatitis virus infection among pregnant women.
- To identify the consequences of hepatitis virus infection on pregnant women.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
STRUCTURE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS
The hepatitis B virus is a 42nm particle comprising an electron dense nucleocapsid or core, 27nm in diameter surrounded by an outer envelope of the surface protein (HBsAg – Otherwise called the Australian Antigen) embedded in membranous lipoprotein derived from the host cell (figured) the Australian antigen, that is the surface antigen is produced in excess by the infected hepatocytes, and is secrete in the form of 22 nm particles and tubular structures with the same diameter. In other words, serum from individuals infected with hepatitis B contains three distinct antigenic particles: a spherical 22nm particle, a 42nm spherical particle (containing DNA and DNA polymerize) called the DANE Particle, and tubular or filamentous particles of the same diameter with the spherical particles (22nm). The small spherical and tubular particles are the unassembled components of the Dane particles the infective form of the virus. The unassembled particles contain hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) Australian antigen (Figure2). The 22nm particles are composed of the major surface protein in both non glycosylated and glycosylated form in approximately equimolar amount together with a minority component of the so called middle protein. The surface of the viron has a similar composition but also contains the large surface proteins. These large surface proteins are not found in the 22nm spherical particles (but maybe present in the tubular forms in highly viraemic individual) and their detection in serum correlates with viraemoa. The nuclecapsid of the Varian consists of the viral genome surrounded by the core antigen (HBsAg). The carboxyl terminus of the core protein is anginine rise and this highly basic domais is believe to interact with the genome (van Regenmortel et al, 2000).
THE GENOME AND IT ORGANISATION
The genome, ( full set of genes present in a virus or cell) which is approximately 3.2kb in length, has an unusual structure and is composed of two line strands of DNA help in a circular configuration by base pairing at the 5 ends (cohesive end region). One of the strand is compact and the 3 end is associated with a DNA polymerize molecule that is able to complete that strand when supplied with deoxynucleocide triphosphatis, to date, the genomes of more than a done isolates of have been loaned and the complete nucleotide seaquake determined. Analysis of the some reveals four major polypeptide reading from genes) otherwise known as the opening Reading Frames (ORF) the S (surface) the C (core), the P (Polymerize) and the X (transcription transactivator) (Figure 3). The first opening reading frame, the S gene) encodes the various form of the surface protein and contains three in frame methonine cordons that are used for initiation of translation. The second opening reading frame the core also has two in phase initiation codons the precore region and they are the precore region is highly conserved, has the properties of a signal sequence, and is responsible for the section of HBsAg. The third opening reading frame (the P gene) which is the largest and overlaps the other three encodes the viral polymerize. The protein seens he apparently synthesized following internal initiation of the ribosome. The fourth opening reading frame was designated X” recently identified as transcription transactivator and may be an ‘early gene product that
Functions to up regulate the viral promoters (Zuckerman, )
CHAPTER THREE
MATERIALS AND METHODROGY
This chapter given an sight into research methods, materials and collection of data.
MATERIALS USED:
-Measuring of pipette
-Tsetse/rack
-Timer/ high intensity lamp.
-Automated slide rotator (optional)
-Disposal test slides.
-Disposal dispensing pipettes, 50 ul drop size 0.9% sodium chloride solution.
-Refrigerator
-Centrifuge
-Syringe and needle
blood samples from patients
REAGENT (a) HBsAg latex Reagent
(b) position & negative controls
fransaminase tests: Diazo beak
Benzoate-urea solution
Diazo reagents A&B
Distilled water
Methodology:
TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF HEPATITIS B ANTIGEN
The blood samples were collected intravenously into sterile test tubes. After complete clot reaction, the sera were separated for testing with the and of a centrifuge.
All the reagents and samples were brought to room temperature. The latex was gently mixed to achieve complete resuspension of the particles. For each sample to be tested, a test tube was set up and labeled. 2.0me of 0.9 % sodium chloride solution was pipette into each labeled tube. The disposal dispensing pipette was used to draw up and express one free falling drop (50ul) of each sample into its dilution tube.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT
This chapter given the result of investigation done on the pregnant women in national orthopedic Hospital Enugu. The blood sample of two hundred (200) patient were tested. The following variable were studies Age, Domicile, Occupation and Educating the Patients.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
After the investigations, collection and analysis of data, in which 200 patients’ blood samples were tested, 110 patients tested positive to the virus, and only 90 patients were negative.
These 110 patients included five un-married women, twenty students, forty unskilled workers, twenty semi skilled workers, and finally twenty-five professionals.
The above data went a long way to prove the hypothesis “Hepatitis B is prevalent among patients in Orthopedic Hospital Enugu” to be true. This is seen in the fact that more than half of the patients tested were positive.
Therefore, it is hereby concluded that the infection, Hepatitis B (Australian antigen) is prevalent among patients in the said hospital; undoubtedly as the data speaks for itself.
RECOMMENDATION
One cannot prevent a virulent organism such as the Hepatitis B virus without being extremely careful. It is, therefore, recommended that people who are at risk of contacting this virus should endeavor to take the vaccine against this virus in order to build up antibodies against the antigen. Also, when one is exposed to the virus, the vaccine should be given without 48hours of exposure and not 7days like most textbooks recommended.
Furthermore, contact with all body fluids infected with HBV, and equipment contaminated with infected body fluids should be avoided. Unprotected sex should be avoided, and also not encouraged, while the use of unstorile sharp instruments should be avoided inorder to prevent and control the transmission of Hepatitis B virus.
REFERENCES
- Anderson, F.H, Natalie Rock, Susan Campbell (2002 The Hepatitis B Newsletter. Department Of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Canada.
- Evans, A.S (1997) Viral Infections of humans: Epidemiology and Control, 4th ed., New York; Plenum. Pg. 102 – 9
- Knight, D.M, Howley, P.M (2001) Fundamental Virology, 4th ed., Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins Pg. 60 – 70
- Prescott, M L, Harley, P. J, Klein, A D, (2005) Microbiology, 6th ed., New York: McGraw Hill Companies. Pp 338, 765, 866 – 7
- Schleringer, S. & Schleringer, M. J (2001). Viruses. In Encyclopedia Of Microbiology, 2nd ed., Vol.4, San Diego: Academic Press. Pg 796 – 810
- Seeger, C, & Masor, W. S (2000) Hepatitis B virus Biology, Micro. Mol Biology Rev 64 (1): 51 – 68
- Shaw, Nite, Oliver Russel, Sean Green (1989) Comprehensive Study Of Hepatitis B in U.S.A, Ist ed., New York: Marion Press. Pg 68.
- Sherker, A.H, Marion, P. L (1991) Hepadnaviruses and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Annu. Rev. Microbiology. 45: 475 – 508
