[Seroreactivity to hepatitis B virus surface antigen among different population groups in the City of Durango, Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in several groups of populations in Durango City, Mexico.


METHODS
An observational and comparative study was conducted in 6 groups of population in a total of 775 persons in Durango City, Mexico. The groups studied were 141 registered female sex workers, 100 medical students, 150 blood donors, 104 persons applying for medical certificates, 100 pregnant women, and 180 drug addicts. Serum samples of participants were analyzed for HBsAg by an immunoassay. HBsAg confirmation was performed by neutralization assay.


RESULTS
Out of the 775 participants, 13 (1.7%) were positive by the immunoassay, and only 1 (0.1%) resulted positive by the confirmatory assay. This positive case was a drug addict and had a history of surgery and national and international trips.


CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalence of HBsAg in several groups of population in Durango City is low; the seroprevalence is comparable to or lower than those informed in other Mexican cities. It is strongly recommended to perform the HBsAg confirmation test due to low specificity of the immunoassay.
Alvarado-Esquivel
Cosme
C
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Durango, México. alvaradocosme@yahoo.com
Sifuentes-Alvarez
Antonio
A
Pérez-Ochoa
José Francisco
JF
García-Corral
Nora
N
Rodríguez-Briones
Alfredo
A
González-Castañeda
José Luis
JL
Alonso-Muñoz
Citlaly María Teresa
CM
Bracho-Huemoeller
Antonio
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens