Hepatitis B virus detected in paper currencies in a densely populated city of India: A plausible source of horizontal transmission?
Contamination
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B virus surface antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Horizontal transmission
Occult hepatitis B virus
Paper currencies
Journal
World journal of hepatology
ISSN: 1948-5182
Titre abrégé: World J Hepatol
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101532469
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
27 Oct 2020
27 Oct 2020
Historique:
received:
27
04
2020
revised:
18
08
2020
accepted:
14
09
2020
entrez:
17
11
2020
pubmed:
18
11
2020
medline:
18
11
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The recent rise in the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in a densely populated city of eastern India ("mixing vessel" of people of varied socio-economic and immune status) prompted this study. Applying saliva on fingers for enumerating bank notes is a common practice in the Indian subcontinent. Paper notes may be a potential source of "horizontal" transmission of this virus, especially if there are cuts/bruises on the oral mucous membrane or skin. To investigate whether paper currencies could be a plausible mode of horizontal transmission of HBV infection. Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) followed by nucleotide sequencing was done for the detection of HBV. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(HBsAg ELISA) was performed on all HBV deoxyribonucleic acid-positive samples to check the detectability of the virus. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was carried out for visual confirmation of HBV particles in ultracentrifuged/immunoprecipitated samples from currency paper washings. HBV-specific PCRs on pellets obtained after ultracentrifugation/ immunoprecipitation of the currency paper washings detected potentially intact/viable HBV (genotype D2) in 7.14% of samples ( It is a common practice in the Indian subcontinent to count paper currencies by applying saliva on fingertips. Paper notes may be a potential source of "horizontal" transmission of this virus, especially if there are cuts/bruises on the oral mucous membrane or skin, but it was practically not possible to demonstrate experimentally such transmission. Detection of potentially intact/viable and "occult" HBV from currency poses potential risk of silent transmission of this virus among the general population.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The recent rise in the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in a densely populated city of eastern India ("mixing vessel" of people of varied socio-economic and immune status) prompted this study. Applying saliva on fingers for enumerating bank notes is a common practice in the Indian subcontinent. Paper notes may be a potential source of "horizontal" transmission of this virus, especially if there are cuts/bruises on the oral mucous membrane or skin.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether paper currencies could be a plausible mode of horizontal transmission of HBV infection.
METHODS
METHODS
Polymerase chain reactions (PCR) followed by nucleotide sequencing was done for the detection of HBV. Hepatitis B virus surface antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(HBsAg ELISA) was performed on all HBV deoxyribonucleic acid-positive samples to check the detectability of the virus. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was carried out for visual confirmation of HBV particles in ultracentrifuged/immunoprecipitated samples from currency paper washings.
RESULTS
RESULTS
HBV-specific PCRs on pellets obtained after ultracentrifugation/ immunoprecipitation of the currency paper washings detected potentially intact/viable HBV (genotype D2) in 7.14% of samples (
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
It is a common practice in the Indian subcontinent to count paper currencies by applying saliva on fingertips. Paper notes may be a potential source of "horizontal" transmission of this virus, especially if there are cuts/bruises on the oral mucous membrane or skin, but it was practically not possible to demonstrate experimentally such transmission. Detection of potentially intact/viable and "occult" HBV from currency poses potential risk of silent transmission of this virus among the general population.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33200016
doi: 10.4254/wjh.v12.i10.775
pmc: PMC7643218
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
775-791Commentaires et corrections
Type : ErratumIn
Informations de copyright
©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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