[Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B and C in Kaingang Indians in the south of Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among Kaingang Indians living on the Mangueirinha reservation in the state of Paraná, Brazil.


METHODS
The presence of viral markers was investigated in blood samples from 214 volunteers (81 males, 133 females), using immunoenzymatic techniques. The viral markers studied were: antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HB(c)), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HB(s)), hepatitis B surface antigen (HB(s)Ag), and antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The participants answered a questionnaire on their sociodemographic characteristics, living conditions, personal habits (such as smoking and consuming alcohol or illicit drugs), and history of disease and of vaccination.


RESULTS
The respondents ranged in age from 1 to 90 years; their mean age was 29.85 years. Positivity for anti-HB(s) was 71.02%, and for anti-HB(c) it was 15.42%. None of the individuals was positive for HB(s)Ag. Anti-HCV was detected in only one participant, a 30-year-old woman.


CONCLUSIONS
There were low prevalences of HBV and HCV infection in the Kaingang population studied. The high prevalence of anti-HB(s) in younger individuals indicates good immunization coverage. In the adult population, immunity against HBV was probably acquired mainly by contact with the virus.
Ferreira
Aline
A
Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Departamento de Patologia Médica, Laboratório de Imunopatologia, Curitiba (PR), Brazil.
Greca
Daniel
D
Tavares
Ery
E
Moriya
Yatiyo
Y
Spelling
Florise
F
Boeira
Maristela
M
Dos Santos
Sidneis
S
de Messias-Reason
Iara
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies