Seroprevalence of viral Hepatitis of enteric (A and E) and parenteral / sexual (B and C) transmission of individuals aged 30 to 70 residents in Salvador-Brazil

Abstract

Viral hepatitis are still considered as public health problems. Hepatitis caused by HAV and HEV, spread by enteric transmission are, acute infections associated with precarious basic sanitation, inappropriate hygiene and consumption of contaminated food. Hepatitis caused by HBV and HCV viruses transmitted by parenteral /sexual route are associated with chronic diseases and progression to cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma OBJECTIVES: to estimate the seroprevalence of serological markers of hepatitis A, B, C and E hepatitis, the concomitance of enteric and parenteral / sexual transmission hepatitis in a population aged between 30-70 years and to observe possible relationships with sociodemographic data. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 650 individuals born between 1945 and 1985 attended at a laboratory in the public health network of Salvador-Brazil. Serological tests included IgG anti-HAV, IgG anti-HEV, IgG anti-HBc, IgG anti-HCV. The volunteers answered a questionnaire containing questions about habits, conducts, previous medical procedures and sociodemographic data. RESULTS: 208 of the participants were men (32.00%) and 442 were women (68.0%) and in the groups younger than 31-50 years (301) and older individuals from 51 to 70 years (349). Seroprevalence of HVA (92.46%), HEV(2.15%), HBV (17.76%) and HCV (3.69%). Of the total population, the concomitant seroprevalence of Ig G anti-HAV and IgG anti-HEV (1.85%) and IgG anti-HBc and IgG anti-HCV (1.38%). With the epidemiological and sociodemographic data it is not possible to associate common risk factors for HAV and / or HEV contact in the study population, however, the association of HEV with the proximity of contact / management with swine reported by some participants can not be excluded. Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV was associated with unprotected sex, sharing of needles and syringes in the older group, and injecting drug use. The group of older and males had a higher prevalence of contact with B and C viruses. CONCLUSION: The contact markers that presented the highest seroprevalence were anti-HAV IgG, followed by the markers for HBV, HCV and HEV. The anti-HCV IgG marker presented a higher prevalence than in the general population and the HEV presented a low prevalence. The group of older individuals and male gender presented a higher seroprevalence of contact with HBV and HCV. Concomitant seroprevalence was low in both enteric and parenteral / sexual transmission hepatitis.