Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B virus and plasmodium co-infection profile among patients in Wukari and Environs, North East Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus and plasmodium co-infection is of an increase in developing countries as a result of lack of proper diagnosis leading to increased morbidity. This study was to determine the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus and Plasmodium co-infection profile among patients in Wukari and environs. Seventy (70) subjects’ with the age range of between 0 to 80 years participated and standard microbiological techniques were observed in this study. The results obtained showed 34 (48.6%) were males and 36 (51.4%) were females. Four (5.7%) participants were sero-positive for HBsAg. HBsAb, HBcAb, HBeAg and HBeAb while 66 were not detected positive. The Male with 5.9% participants were sero-positive while 5.6% of the female participants were sero-positive. 20 (28.6%) of the participants were sero-positive for malaria. This comprises of 7 males and 13 females. 20.6% of the males were sero-positive while 36.1% of the females were sero-positive. The distribution of parasitaemia by gender across the participants showed that 24 (34.3%) had plasmodium parasitaemia, out of which 9 were males and 15 were females. 26.5% of the males and 41.7% of the females had plasmodium parasitaemia. There was no co-infection of Hepatitis B virus and malaria, despite both having prevalence of 5.7% and 34.3% respectively. The research on its own has shown that in order to reduce HBV and plasmodium co-infection, mass immunization of adults and antiviral drugs should be provided for those that are infected, while HBV and plasmodium co-infections screening programs should be instituted in all levels of institutions in the country to reduce the prevalence rate and level of transmission of the hepatitis virus. This study also has added to the puddle of knowledge already available in this area of research.