title: Epidemiology of hepatitis B, C, and E viruses and human immunodeficiency virus infections in Tahuna, Sangihe-Talaud Archipelago, Indonesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The epidemiology of hepatitis B, C,E viruses (HBV, HCV, HEV) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) has been obscure in Indonesia, particularly remote areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook serological surveys for HBV/HCV/HEV/HIV infections in the general population of Tahuna, the capital city of Sangihe-Talaud Archipelago,outlier in the northeastern part of Indonesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 581 sera collected in April 2005, 1.4% was reactive for HBsAg,0.2% for anti-HCV, and 5.9% for anti-HEV, but none for HIV. All the HBsAg-positive sera were also positive for DNA, the nucleotide sequence of which is segregated within subgenotype C5. Most of the preschool children were positive for anti-HBs as a result of an HB immunization initiated in 1997. The titer of anti-HCV in the only individual detected was very low, with a negative result of HCV RNA detection,suggesting a nonspecific reaction. Anti-HEV was significantly more frequent in those over 30 years of age than in the younger age group (24 vs. 1.9%, p ! 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, it seems that HCV and HIV have fortunately not made it as far as the Sangihe-Talaud Archipelago. Although HBV infection remains a major problem in adults (with the HBsAg-positive rate at 4.9%), HB immunization has begun to protect the younger generation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Mataram University, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara , Indonesia.
authors.forename: Wenny Astuti
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Achwan
authors.forename: Zainul
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Muttaqin
authors.forename: Edy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: Sulaiman Amangongu
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Depamede
authors.lastname: Mulyanto
authors.forename: Suwignyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sumoharjo
authors.forename: Fumio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mishiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies