High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection amongst Tibetans in Nepal.
Tibetans have been living in Nepal since 1959. Study of the prevalence of viral hepatitis among them showed that they have a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Prevalence of total HBV infection and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among them was 61% and 16% compared to 10.0% and 0.7% respectively among the Nepalese. The predominant HBsAg subtype among the Tibetans was 'ayw'. Perinatal and childhood transmission was found important in the spread of HBV infection among the Tibetans.
Shrestha
S M
SM
Liver Foundation Nepal, Tripureswor, P.O. Box No. 3439, Kathmandu, Nepal. liver@mail.com.np
Takeda
N
N
Tsuda
F
F
Okamoto
H
H
Shrestha
S
S
Shrestha
V M
VM
D002353:Carrier State / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000208:ethnology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D018609:Tibet / Q000208:ethnology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens