[Hepatitis A and hepatitis B seroprevalence in 4 centers in Brazil].
The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A and B virus was assessed in 3,653 subjects across four regions of Brazil. The anti-HAV and anti-HBc seroprevalence were 64.7% and 7.9%, respectively. The highest anti-HAV (92.8%) and anti-HBc (21.4%) rates were seen in the Northern region. In other regions, anti-HAV seroprevalence over 90% was only reached in the more elderly, indicating an intermediate endemicity and a significantly higher anti-HAV prevalence was seen in the low socioeconomic group between 1-30 years. With respect to anti-HBc seroprevalence an increase was seen in adolescents and there was a significantly higher anti-HBc prevalence in the lower socioeconomic group between 1-20 years. A 3.1% anti-HBc prevalence was seen in one-year-old infants, suggesting a vertical transmission. The major findings of this study indicate that the pre-adolescent and adolescent population in some Brazilian cities are at greatest risk from both hepatitis A and B infection, but for different reasons.
Clemens
S A
SA
Instituto de Pós-graduação Médica Carlos Chagas, Brasil.
da Fonseca
J C
JC
Azevedo
T
T
Cavalcanti
A
A
Silveira
T R
TR
Castilho
M C
MC
Clemens
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies