Risk factors and seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus infection in uzbekistan.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Uzbekistan and to explore whether there is a correlation between those blood-borne agents and socioeconomic risk factors.


METHODS
One thousand nine hundred and eighteen subjects were studied. The subjects were divided into a low-risk group, a high-risk group and a patient group. Sera were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV, and anti-HIV.


RESULTS
The seroprevalence of HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV in the general population was 13.3, 13.1 and 0%, respectively. The anti-HCV infection rate was significantly higher in intravenous drug users (62.7%) than in prostitutes (9.2%), homosexuals (11.1%), and medical laboratory employees (12.5%) (p < 0.01). In the low-risk group, positivity for anti-HCV increased with age from 2.2% in the 15- to 20-year-olds up to the highest rate of 17.6% in the 31- to 40-year-olds; the positivity then decreased to 0% in the group over 60 years of age. In the high-risk group, the positivity for anti-HCV in the age groups under 40 years was approximately 30% and significantly higher than in the low-risk group (p < 0.01). Risk factors for transmission of HCV were medical treatment in the low-risk group, drug abuse in the high-risk group, and both in the patient group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV infection is high, whereas HIV infection is yet uncommon in Uzbekistan.
Ruzibakiev
R
R
Institute of Immunology, Academy of Science, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Kato
H
H
Ueda
R
R
Yuldasheva
N
N
Hegay
T
T
Avazova
D
D
Kurbanov
F
F
Zalalieva
M
M
Tuichiev
L
L
Achundjanov
B
B
Mizokami
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000196:embryology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014610:Uzbekistan / Q000453:epidemiology
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies