title: High HBsAg and anti-delta carrier rate among asymptomatic Africans living on the campus of the University of Niamey, Niger.
abstract: In 1984 and 1985, a non-random survey was conducted among healthy Africans living on the campus of the University of Niamey, Niger. Of 238 asymptomatic subjects, 17.6% carried hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in their serum, while 50.8% demonstrated protective anti-HBs antibodies. Antibodies to delta virus were detected in 29.3% of HBsAg-positive sera. This suggests that hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) are common in Niger, and the factors that increase the likelihood of HBV transmission may also enhance the risk of HDV transmission.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000276:immunology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009548:Niger
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens