HBsAg carriers among healthy Nepalese men: a serological survey.
The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was studied among 2,585 healthy Nepalese men, aged 16-50 years, who required medical check-ups for employment abroad. Serum samples, collected during July-September 1999, were tested for HBsAg using a third-generation ELISA kit. Of the 2,585 men, 24 (0.93%) were positive for HBsAg, indicating that hepatitis B infection in the target group was below the intermediate endemicity. The prevalence of HBsAg was minimum (0.36%) in the central development region, followed by western, eastern and mid-western development regions (0.82%,1.16%, and 2.08% respectively, chi2 = 4.76, p < 0.2). The positivity of HBsAg was slightly higher in the hilly region (1.11%) than in the terai (0.84%) and mountainous regions (0%), which was not significant (chi2 = 2.1, p < 0.5). The prevalence was highest in the 46-50-year age group. Alanine aminotransferase was tested in all 24 positive and 150 negative subjects to indicate the stage of infection. Seven (29.16%) of the 24 positive cases had elevated alanine aminotransferase, indicating associated liver damage (chi2 = 4.16, p < 0.05) and it was significantly associated with positivity of HBsAg (chi2 = 32.6, p < 0.001). All 9 positive subjects from the terai region had normal alanine aminotransferase, whereas 7 of the 15 subjects from the hilly region had it elevated (chi2 = 1.76, p < 0.001). Seven (29%) of the positive subjects were chronic carriers with its sequel in the liver, and the remaining 17 subjects (70.84%) may be in the incubation period or convalescent stage or may be chronic carriers. The results suggest that the population should be educated about the sequel of the infection.
Bidya
Shrestha
S
Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, Nepal. bshrestha@enet.com.np
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D012016:Reference Values
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase