title: Sero-prevalence to hepatitis B and C virus infection in refugees from Mozambique in southern Africa.
abstract: Serological markers for evidence of past exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were investigated in a cohort of refugees from Mozambique. Serological markers for past exposure to HBV were detected in 56% of the population and, in addition, 13.2% carried the HBV surface antigen. Anti-HCV antibodies could be confirmed in 3.2% of the population and occurred mostly in the older individuals. Only one anti-HCV antibody positive individual was positive for HBsAg. Immunity to rubellavirus had reached 85% by 11 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Medical University of Southern Africa, Medunsa, Pretoria.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peenze
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aspinall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000353:Africa, Southern / Q000453:epidemiology; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009073:Mozambique / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies