title: Prevalence of serological hepatitis A and B markers in a rural area of northern Zaire.
abstract: In a seroepidemiological study of the population of a rural area in northern Zaire, markers of hepatitis A and B were determined. Examinations of serum specimens (n = 142) showed that hepatitis A is acquired early in childhood; virtually all persons beyond 20 years of age are immune. Capillary blood dried on filter discs (n = 352) gave accurate results only in childhood; in older individuals a high percentage of positive results was missed (approximately 20%), presumably due to lower anti-HAV titers in older persons. The dried-blood method showed similar limitations regarding the detection of hepatitis B markers. In the 5-7 year age group there was already a high prevalence of anti-HBc (59%) as determined by the dried blood method. In the 10-19 year age group the prevalence was 94% as determined by examination of serum specimens. In all age groups the percentage of HBsAg positive persons was 20.7%, as demonstrated in capillary blood specimens and 31.7% in serum specimens.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Frösner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fresenius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens