An epidemiologic study of hepatitis B virus in Okinawa and Kyushu, Japan.
In 1968-1981, a total of 3222 serum samples were collected from healthy subjects in Okinawa--in Ishigaki City, on Hateruma Island, and on Iriomote Island--and in Kyushu, in Fukuoka City and Nichinan City. These serum samples were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by reverse passive hemagglutination (RPHA), for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) by passive hemagglutination (PHA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA), and for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by RIA. Overall prevalence of HBsAg (7.5%), anti-HBs by PHA (41.0%) and RIA (56.4%), and anti-HBc (65.5%) in Okinawa was significantly higher than prevalence of HBsAg (2.4%), anti-HBs by PHA (24.7%) and by RIA (28.1%), and anti-HBc (30.9%) in Kyushu. In both areas, anti-HBc was more frequently detected than anti-HBs by both methods. In Okinawa, HBsAg was significantly more prevalent in males than in females. No significant differences by sex in other hepatitis B virus markers were found. On Iriomote Island and Ishigaki City, second samples were collected after intervals of 10 and 12 years, respectively. Over these periods, the prevalence of all hepatitis B virus markers decreased significantly for the 0-9 and 10-19 year age groups. These data suggest that hepatitis B infection among children has declined in recent years and that high prevalence of hepatitis B infection in adults may reflect high rates of infection in their childhood.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012737:Sex Factors
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens