Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Brazil’s western Amazon basin has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the country. Coinfection with hepatitis D virus (HDV) is also endemic. To estimate the prevalence of HBV and HDV markers in a population inhabiting the northwest portion of Mato Grosso state in the western Amazon.METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of the seroprevalence of antibodies against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) in the Três Fronteiras District northwest of Mato Grosso. Anti-HBc-positive subjects were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). Those positive for this marker were tested for HDV antibodies. Anti-HBc-negative participants were tested for anti-HBsAg. All tests were performed by EIA. RESULTS: A total of 623 individuals in the community were assessed; the majority (67.6%) were male, with a mean age of 30.8 ± 15.4 years. Two hundred and fourteen individuals (34.3%) were anti-HBc-positive, and 47 (7.5%) were HBsAg carriers. Only one individual was anti-HDV-positive. Among the 409 individuals without HBV infection, 18.3% were anti-HBsAg-positive. There was no association between HBV infection and known risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The study area had intermediate-to-high endemicity for HBV infection, but a low prevalence of HDV. Our serological results suggesting low vaccination-induced protection indicate a need for reinforced immunization programs in the populations of northwest Mato Grosso.
Highlights
Brazil’s western Amazon basin has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the country
The vaccine protected profile was low across all age groups, including children (Table 4). This survey focused on HBV and hepatitis D virus (HDV) prevalence in a west Amazonian population comprised of low-income individuals with low education levels, most of whom had migrated from other areas of the Amazon
One-third of the assessed individuals had previously been infected by HBV, and 7.5% were HBsAgpositive, indicating moderate-to-high endemicity for HBV
Summary
Brazil’s western Amazon basin has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the country. To estimate the prevalence of HBV and HDV markers in a population inhabiting the northwest portion of Mato Grosso state in the western Amazon. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of the seroprevalence of antibodies against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) in the Três Fronteiras District northwest of Mato Grosso. Anti-HBc-positive subjects were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). Those positive for this marker were tested for HDV antibodies. Among the 409 individuals without HBV infection, 18.3% were anti-HBsAg-positive. Conclusions: The study area had intermediate-to-high endemicity for HBV infection, but a low prevalence of HDV. The hepatitis D or delta virus (HDV) is a replication defective agent that can only infect people in the presence of HBV5.
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