Hepatitis B virus in Gizan, Saudi Arabia.
The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to study the prevalence rates for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to surface antigen (anti-HBs), and antibody to core antigen (anti-HBc) in 724 voluntary donors, students, pregnant women and those seeking treatment for minor ailments in the Gizan area of Saudi Arabia. Tests for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and e antibody (anti-HBe) were made in HBsAg positive sera. There was serological evidence of an existing or earlier infection in 337 Saudis (46.5%), of whom 12.7% were HBsAg carriers, 25.4% were positive for anti-HBs, and 8.4% were positive only for anti-HBc. The percentage of HBsAg carriers was 19.9% and 9.3% in males and females, respectively (p less than 0.001). The evidence of existing or earlier infection in males (58.7%) was significantly higher than in females (38.7%) (p less than 0.001), with no intersex difference in anti-HBs or anti-HBc. No difference was observed in the positivity of either of the markers, alone or together, between the cord blood and the female population in the child-bearing age of 20-39 years. Corresponding to the values in other age groups, there was an overall fall in the number of HBsAg carriers during adolescence as well as in 20-39-year-old females. Among the HBsAg carriers, there was no significant difference between the two sexes for HBeAg and anti-HBe positivity. The HBsAg carrier rate of 19.9% in males is consistent with the high male dominant prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Gizan area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens