Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis Band C viruses (HBV and HCV) are the three most common chronic viral infections documented world-wide. Both hepatitis viruses and HIV can be transmitted through the use of intravenous drug in adults or unprotected sexual intercourse. The major routes for HIV transmission are similar to that of hepatotropic viruses; as a result, infections with HBV are common in HIV-infected patients.To study the sero-positivity of HbsAg in HIV positive patients and to compare the prevalence of Anti HCV and HbsAg positivity in normal persons. This study was a Hospital based Observational Cross-sectional study, carried out in the Department of Microbiology for a period of 12 months i.e, between July 2023 to July 2024. A total of 358 patients infected with HIV were taken into the study in which 42 cases were found to be HBsAg. The patients belonged to both sexes and age range from 20 to 60 years. Detailed patient data including age, occupation, relevant history, examination finding were noted using prepared proforma and each patient underwent general physical examination and systemic examination of abdomen, chest, cardiovascular and central nervous systems and a set of investigations consisting of haemoglobin estimation, total and differential white cell count, platelet count, ESR, urine analysis, liver function tests, blood for VDRL, Mantoux test, radiogram chest and HBsAg testing. In the present study HBsAg was found to be positive in 42 (11.7%) of 358 HIV seropositive cases. HBsAg antigenaemia was observed in 32 patients (76.19%) at the onset (21.4% having viral hepatitis and 54.7% were asymptomatic HBsAg carriers). In 5 patients (11.9%) HBsAg antigenaemia appeared after 6 months and in another 5 patients (11.9%) after 12 months (asymptomatic HBsAg carrier). 20 patients (57.1%) showed disappearance of HBsAg by 6 months, 1 patient (2.8%) become negative between 7 to 12 months, 3 patients (8.5%) in 13 to 18 months, 2 patients in 25 to 30 month (5.7%) and 9 patients (25.7%) showed persistence of HBs antigenaemia even after 30 months.The study revealed considerable percentage of HIV seropositive cases having HBsAg antigenaemia. HlV infection appeared to prolong the HBsAg positive state thereby increasing the chances of development of chronicity.

HIV, Antigenaemia, Seropositivity, HbsAg, Hepatitis