en Molecular Microbiology Molecular Microbiology مقاله کامل Full Length/Original Article <strong>Background:</strong> Based on evidence, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) have common transmission routes; co-infection of HBV/HIV can dramatically increase disease progression. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of overt HBV infection and occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) in HIV-positive people. <strong>Methods:</strong> In this descriptive study, whole blood samples were collected from 184 HIV-positive subjects referring to the Consultation Center for Behavioral Diseases, Sanandaj, Iran, during 2014 to 2016. ELISA was used for the determination of HBV serologic markers (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and antibodies to hepatitis B virus core antigen [anti-HBc]). To evaluate OBI, DNA was extracted only from HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc-positive samples and tested for HBV DNA by real-time PCR. Test results and patients&rsquo; data were analyzed by SPSS software. <strong>Results:</strong> The mean age of the study population was 39.2 &plusmn; 9.4 (SD) years, of whom 140 (76%) were male. Overall, 43 (23.3%) samples were positive for HBsAg (overt HBV infection), and 50 (27.2%) for anti-HBc. Among 31 HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc-positive samples (suspected OBI), one (3.2%) sample was positive for HBV DNA (verified seropositive OBI). HBV infection was higher among males (n = 37; 86.05%), jobless people (n = 23; 53.49%), and those with an injection HIV transmission route (n = 32; 74.43%).<strong>Conclusion: </strong>We observed a high prevalence of overt HBV and one OBI among the study population. A serologic marker such as anti-HBc indicates resolved or past HBV infection. Molecular screening for HBV is valuable for the management of HIV-infected people. Hepatitis B virus, HBV/HIV co-infection, Human immunodeficiency virus, Occult HBV Infection 434 440 http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-460-3&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Fuad Azmoudeh-Ardalan azmoudeh.aa@gmail.com 0000-0001-7599-8248 No Student of Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran Mazaher Khodabandehloo mazaher-kh@muk.ac.ir 0000-0002-8800-0501 Yes Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran, mazaher-kh@muk.ac.ir 3- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran