Ryan, KathleenAnderson, MotswediGyurova, IvaylaAmbroggio, LilliamMoyo, SikhulileSebunya, TeresaMakhema, JosephMarlink, RichardEssex, MaxMusonda, RosemaryGaseitsiwe, SimaniBlackard, Jason T2017-12-062017Ryan, K., M. Anderson, I. Gyurova, L. Ambroggio, S. Moyo, T. Sebunya, J. Makhema, et al. 2017. “High Rates of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in HIV-Positive Individuals Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in Botswana.” Open Forum Infectious Diseases 4 (4): ofx195. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofx195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofx195.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34492481Abstract Background: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–negative but hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA-positive infection—known as occult hepatitis B infection (OBI)—occurs in 1% to >15% of HIV-positive individuals in the United States and South Africa, respectively. However, there are no data on OBI from Botswana, a country known to be hyperendemic for chronic HBV infection and to have a significant HIV burden. Methods: Two hundred seventy-two adults enrolled in an HIV treatment study of tenofovir/emtricitabine as the nucleoside backbone who were previously determined to be HBsAg negative were tested for HBV DNA at baseline and 1 year after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Results: HBV DNA was detected in 72 of 272 (26.5%). Six individuals (8.3%) had HBV DNA levels greater than 200 IU/mL, and the highest viral load was 3280 IU/mL. Of 65 participants with OBI evaluated at 12 months after initiating HAART, only 1 (1.5%) had detectable HBV DNA. Conclusions: Occult HBV infection is quite common in HIV-infected patients in Botswana, although its impact on the course of HIV disease progression is unknown. The suppression of occult HBV DNA levels by tenofovir/emtricitabine suggests an effective therapeutic option, although the long-term suppressive abilities remain unstudied.en-USAfricaBotswanaHBVhepatitis B virusHIVHIV/HBVocculttenofovirJournal Article2017-12-0610.1093/ofid/ofx195