Hepatitis B and C prevalences among blood donors in the south region of Brazil.
The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection has been determined in a seroepidemiological survey among blood donors from the south of Brazil (Florianópolis, State of Santa Catarina). These markers has also been correlated with the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a surrogate marker to prevent post-transfusion hepatitis. Sera from 5000 donors were randomly collected in the period of April to November 1991. The prevalences of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc were respectively 0.78%, 7.02% and 13.98%. The anti-HCV prevalence after confirmation testing with line immunoassay (LIA), was 1.14%. Normal values of ALT ( < = 32 U/ml) were found in 59.78%, values slightly above the mean (ALT between 32-70 U/ml) in 37.74% and high values of ALT ( > = 70 U/ml) in 2.48%. The positivity of anti-HCV antibodies increased with the elevation of ALT levels. This correlation was not observed in relation to HBsAg. There exists a diversity in the recognition of HCV epitopes among HCV positive donors. Via the confirmation test used, we could observe that 94.7% of donors recognize the structural core antigen. Besides that, we observed that 5.26% of the HCV reactive sera recognized only epitopes located in the NS4 and/or NS5 region, indicating the importance of these epitopes for the improvement of assays.
Vasconcelos
H C
HC
Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Santa Catarina-HEMOSC, Setor de Sorologia, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil.
Yoshida
C F
CF
Vanderborght
B O
BO
Schatzmayr
H G
HG
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase