[The circulation of the hepatitis A and B viruses in the Somali population].
We report the results of a study carried out to evaluate the extent of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) circulation in Somalia. Serum samples were collected from 593 subjects (age range 0-83 years) and tested for anti-hepatitis A (HAV) and anti-HAV IgM. Serum samples taken from 1272 individuals (age range 0-83 years) were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, anti-HBcAg, HBeAg and anti-HBeAg. We confirmed a very high rate of HAV exposure (about 90% of the subjects tested had circulating anti-HAV) as is typical of fecal-orally transmitted infectious agents. The age-specific anti-HAV IgM prevalence suggests that HAV infection is acquired very early in life. Our data also indicate a high rate of HBsAg carriers (range: 10.5%-27.4%) in the Somalian population. When all markers are considered, 60% of the adult population showed evidence of HBV exposure. HBV spreads very subtly: in fact, it is generally transmitted via non-overtly percutaneous routes. In Somalia, hepatitis A virus infection is highly endemic and occurs very early in life. Hepatitis B virus infection is also widespread in this country.
Mohamud
K B
KB
Comitato Tecnico per la Facoltà di Medicina, Università Nazionale della Somalia, Mogadiscio, Somalia.
Aceti
A
A
Mohamed
O M
OM
Pennica
A
A
Maalin
K A
KA
Biondi
R
R
Hagi
M A
MA
Quaranta
G
G
Paparo
S B
SB
Celestino
D
D
D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012998:Somalia / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
Ricerche sulla circolazione del virus A e del virus B dell'epatite nella popolazione somala.