title: Prevalence of markers of hepatitis B virus infection among the general population of the municipality of Slavonski Brod.
abstract: To assess the prevalence of hepatitis B viral infection in general population of the Community of Slavonski Brod, sera from 2,142 apparently healthy individuals were tested for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers: surface antigen and antibody (HBsAg and anti-HBs), and core antibody (anti-HBc), by radio and enzyme-immunoassay. The HBsAg results showed a general prevalence of 1.8%(38/2,142): for males 1.9% and for females 1.6%. The highest HBsAg incidence rates (2.1% and 1.9%) were found in young adults aged 21-30, respective in older children and adolescents, from 11 to 20 years. The lowest HBsAg prevalence (1.0%) was proved in children from 1 to 5 years, while in sera of 68 examined sucklings HBsAg was not detected. The HBsAg incidence was 1.9% (21/1132) in urban and 1.7% (17/1010) in rural inhabitants. The overall prevalence rate of total HBV infection in 13.7% (294/2,142) examinees was found. There was no difference in the prevalence of HBV infection in males 15.7% (177/1130) and females 11.6% (117/1012), as well as in persons living in rural 12.5% (126/1010) or in urban 14.8% (168/1132) areas. The prevalence rate of anti-HBs and anti-HBc gradually increased with increasing age, starting at about 3.2% in the youngest, and reaching 15.5% in adults over 50 years. The results obtained have place the Community of Slavonski Brod among areas with an intermediate endemicity of HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department for Infectious Diseases, Medical Centre, Slavonski Brod, Croatia.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jelić
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jelić
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jelić
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jelić
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mihaljević
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens