title: HBV epidemiology in Latin America.
abstract: In Latin America, despite the paucity of population studies, hepatitis B is considered endemic. The western Amazonia is a highly endemic area where hepatitis D is also prevalent. In this area, outbreaks of fulminant hepatitis due to H13V and HDV are frequently reported. Non-safe sexual activity seems to be the most important transmission route, but intrafamilial transmission, during early childhood, is extremely significant in Amazonia. The H13V genotype distribution is heterogeneous with a high prevalence of genotype F in the Amazonian region and genotype A in all other areas. In the region where Asian and Italian immigration occurred, genotypes B, C and D are also described.
authors.affiliation: Castro-Hepatology Unit, Unioersity Hospital of Bahia, Federal Unioersity of Bahia, Brazil. unif@svn.com.br
authors.forename: Raymundo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paraná
authors.forename: Delvone
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology