Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in healthy persons in North India.
BACKGROUND
There is scant information on the main methods through which hepatitis B virus infection is transmitted in India. We, therefore, studied the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen in voluntary blood donors as well as in those healthy groups who have a high risk of contracting this infection.


METHODS
The groups at risk studied included commercial sex workers (635), eunuchs (28), truck drivers (217), professional blood donors (1117) and health care workers (1313). In addition, 20,435 voluntary blood donors were also studied.


RESULTS
Hepatitis B surface antigen (and its antibody) was positive in 2.6% (14%) of voluntary blood donors, 3.6% (19%) of commercial sex workers, 5% (16%) of truck drivers, 12% (9%) of professional donors, 1.4% (19%) of health care workers and none (18%) of the eunuchs. Except professional donors and truck drivers, none of these groups had a higher positivity than the normal population (2.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that in India the so-called high risk groups, other than truck drivers and professional blood donors, are unlikely to represent major sources of infection.
Irshad
M
M
Department of Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi.
Joshi
Y K
YK
Acharya
S K
SK
Tandon
B N
BN
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011477:Sex Work
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens