Seroprevalence Of HBsAg Research Articles

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and GB virus-C infections in Siberia.

We studied the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and GB virus-C (GBV-C) infections in 348 Siberian natives who lived in the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia. Of 348 samples studied, the seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 11.8% (41 of 348 samples) and 35.9% (125 of 348 samples), respectively. The prevalence of HCV infection was 1.4% (5 of 348 samples), and that of GBV-C RNA, using RT-PCR methods, was 7.5% (26 of 348 samples). In Siberia, the prevalences of HBV and GBV-C infections were about tenfold higher than those in Japan. The prevalence of HBsAg in subjects under 50 years of age was significantly higher than that in those over 50 years old (P < 0.05). Because HBV infection is highly endemic in Siberia, we propose that the community-based mass immunization must be conducted as soon as possible in this area.

A Population-based Hepatitis B Seroprevalence and Risk Factor Study in a Northern Ontario Town

To determine a) population-based hepatitis B seroprevalence rates; and b) associated behavioural risk factors. A remote northern Ontario town with a cluster of hepatitis B cases. Anonymous blood testing linked with risk-factor questionnaires. 635 persons aged 14 to 30 years (51% of the eligible age cohort) donated blood in return for free vaccination; four were anti-HBs positive, and none was HBsAg positive. In all, 19% of participants reported two or more sexual partners in the previous year, 6% reported at least one tattooing in the previous year, and 1% reported illicit injection drug use. Of persons with multiple sexual partners 84% did not consistently use condoms. When the serological results of the original cluster (and contacts) were considered, the age cohort's HBsAg seroprevalence rate was estimated to be between 0.24% and 0.47%. While the serosurvey did not discover additional HBsAg positive cases, there was great potential for heterosexual transmission.

Seroepidemiological survey of hepatitis B and C virus infections in Ghanaian children.

The seroprevalences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) markers were evaluated in a random sample of 803 children attending school in Ashanti-Akim North district in Ghana in order to gain a better understanding of transmission patterns of these viruses, particularly horizontal transmission of HBV. This rural district is typical of 70% of the Ghanaian population. The overall seroprevalence of at least one marker of HBV infection was 61.2%, with rates increasing from 48% to 80% between the ages of 6-18 years (P < 0.001). The overall HBsAg seroprevalence was 15.8%, with the proportion of HBsAg positives amongst those with anti-HBc increasing from 39.3% in 6-7-year-olds to 51.8% in 12-13-year-olds. It appears that horizontal transmission during this age period was accompanied by a high rate of HBsAg carriage. Among those infected but not carriers, i.e., those HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive, > 50% lacked detectable levels of anti-HBs, an unusual pattern of convalescent immune response to HBV. The overall seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 5.4% and did not differ significantly by age or gender. Anti-HCV seroprevalence was not associated with the presence of any HBV marker. A better understanding of the unusually high prevalences of HBV and HCV infections demonstrated in this population is likely to influence vaccination and blood transfusion policies and to stimulate further evaluations of these infections and their vehicles of spread in highly endemic regions such as sub-Saharan Africa.

The seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C in hospitalized Danish patients.

Health care workers are at risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. To assess the risk of exposure to hepatitis B or C in the case of occupational blood exposure, we determined the seroprevalence of these infections in 466 patients admitted to a Copenhagen university hospital. Serological markers for hepatitis B or C were detected in 56 patients (12.0%). The seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV was 0.9% and 1.5% respectively. HCV RNA, indicating ongoing hepatitis C, was found in five of seven anti-HCV-positive patients by polymerase chain reaction. The serological findings had not previously been diagnosed in 4 of 10 potentially infectious patients and only 6 of 10 patients belonged to high-risk groups. In conclusion, health care workers should be aware of the potential the occupational risk of hepatitis B and C even in a low-prevalence country like Denmark. Management of health care workers after blood exposure should include serological testing for both hepatitis B and C. Strict adherence to universal precautions is recommended and vaccination against hepatitis B should be encouraged.

HIV Infection in the Dominican Republic-Reply

In Reply.— The comments by Drs Lange and Kreider emphasize the possible interaction of HBV and HIV on the island of Hispaniola. Their conclusions, however, are based on data that are either outdated or incorrectly quoted. The work of Mazzur et al 1 cited by Drs Lange and Kreider was performed in 1976 and samples were taken only from blood donors at one hospital in the city of Santo Domingo. It is noteworthy, moreover, that the prevalence of any marker to HBV in that study was close to 83%, not 65% as quoted by Drs Lange and Kreider. The Table presents more recent information (from 1984 through 1986) on the seroprevalence of HBsAg in segments of the Dominican population. The overall prevalence of 16.0% is much higher than that found in theearlier study by Mazzur et al. In addition, the seroprevalence of HIV is incorrectly listed in the table

Seroprevalence of HBsAg among blood donar’s in Sher-E-Bangla Medical College, Barisal

Hepatitis B virus infection is a global health problem. About 350 to 400 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B in the world. This is a retrospective study carried out in the department of transfusion medicine, Sher- E-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barisal, during the period 1st January to 31st December 2007, among the blood donors who attended for blood donation. During this period 12,914 patients attended the department for transfusion. Among them 12,014 were male and 900 were female, age range was 18 to 60 years. Among them professional donors were 955, voluntary donors were 4494 and replacement donors were 7556 and HBsAg was positive in 0.42%, 0.87% and 1.11% respectively. Overall prevalence was 0.98%. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College, Barisal. Blood samples were collected from 12914 healthy donors. All donors were pre-screened by a questionnaire provided by the institution and passed the physical examination conducted by the medical officer in charge. Blood donors data and results of HBsAg were analyzed using the blood bank's records. There was an overall prevalence of 0.98% of HBsAg(+) among all the tested blood donors. There was statistically significant difference between sexes. These results stress the importance of screening programs that must be implemented. doi: 10.3329/blj.v1i1.2624 Bangladesh Liver Journal Vol.1(1) 2009 p.38-40