Epidemiology of hepatitis B, C, and E viruses and human immunodeficiency virus infections in Tahuna, Sangihe-Talaud Archipelago, Indonesia.
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.
Achwan
Wenny Astuti
WA
Department of Internal Medicine, Mataram University, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara , Indonesia.
Muttaqin
Zainul
Z
Zakaria
Edy
E
Depamede
Sulaiman Amangongu
SA
Mulyanto
Sumoharjo
Suwignyo
S
Tsuda
Fumio
F
Takahashi
Kazuaki
K
Abe
Natsumi
N
Mishiro
Shunji
S
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
D015483:HIV Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies