title: [High prevalence of hepatitis B infection in Amerindians in Japreira, Zulia State, Venezuela].
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the Japreira indigenous community, Venezuela, and its relationship to age and gender. An intentional, non-probabilistic sample of 149 individuals was selected from a total of 300. All samples were studied for the presence of total HBV antibodies (total anti-HBc), and the positive samples were tested for HBV surface and "e" antigens (HBsAg, HBeAg). Overall prevalence rates of total anti-HBc were 72.9% in females and 81.1% in males. The highest prevalence of HBsAg was observed in males 26-35 years of age. Only four of the 44 HBsAg carriers were positive for HBeAg. The results showed a high endemic HBV infection rate and indicated that its spread begins at early ages. Sexual transmission may be the main route for spread of the virus. Crowding, close contact with bodily fluids, specific social practices, and features of the circulating viral strain among members of this community could be involved in the high chronicity observed in the Japreira indigenous community.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Calle 14 no. 15a-198, Lago Marbeach, Maracaibo, Venezuela. monsalve22000@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monsalve-Castillo
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Echevarría
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Atencio
authors.forename: Anais
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Costa-León
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montiel
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Molero
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zambrano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens