Serology based disease status of Pakistani population infected with hepatitis B virus.
BACKGROUND
The infection rate of hepatitis B virus is continuously increasing in Pakistan. Therefore, a comprehensive study of epidemiological data is the need of time.


METHODS
A total of 1300 individuals were screened for HBV infection markers including HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBcAg. The association of these disease indicators was compared with patients' epidemiological characteristics like age, socio-economic status and residential area to analyze and find out the possible correlation among these variables and the patients disease status.


RESULTS
52 (4%) individuals were found positive for HBsAg with mean age 23.5 +/- 3.7 years. 9.30%, 33.47% and 12% individuals had HBeAg, antibodies for HBsAg, and antibodies for HBcAg respectively. HBsAg seropositivity rate was significantly associated (p = 0.03) with the residing locality indicating high infection in rural areas. Antibodies titer against HBsAg decreased with the increasing age reflecting an inverse correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate high prevalence rate of Hepatitis B virus infection and nationwide vaccination campaigns along with public awareness and educational programs are needed to be practiced urgently.
Alam
Muhammad Masroor
MM
Department of Virology, National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan. ursmasroor@yahoo.com <ursmasroor@yahoo.com>
Zaidi
Soahil Zahoor
SZ
Malik
Salman Akbar
SA
Naeem
Asif
A
Shaukat
Shahzad
S
Sharif
Salmaan
S
Angez
Mehar
M
Khan
Anis
A
Butt
Javed Aslam
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012923:Social Class; D014505:Urban Population
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens