title: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus and risk factors in Brazilian non-injecting drug users.
abstract: Non-injecting drug users are at high-risk for acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV), although the factors contributing to this increased risk are not known. In the present study, the overall and occult HBV infection prevalence rates were determined in a large population of non-injecting drug users in the Central-West region of Brazil. HBV genotypes and predictors of infection were also identified. A total of 852 individuals in 34 drug treatment centers were interviewed, and their serum samples were tested for the presence of HBV markers by ELISA. HBsAg and anti-HBc-positive samples were tested for HBV DNA by PCR. Samples with HBV DNA were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The overall prevalence of HBV infection was 14% (95% CI: 11.7-16.5). A multivariate analysis of risk factors showed that age >30 years, non-white race/ethnicity, duration of drug use >10 years, lifetime number of sexual partners >10, non-use of condoms, and HCV and HIV status were associated significantly with HBV infection. Of the 9 (1%) HBsAg-reactive samples, HBV DNA was present in 2/2 of HBeAg-positive and in 5/7 anti-HBe-positive samples. An occult HBV infection rate of 2.7% (3/110) was found among anti-HBc-positive individuals. All HBV DNA-positive samples were genotyped: seven were genotype A, two were genotype D, and one was genotype F. Finally, few individuals (8%) had serological evidence of a previous HBV vaccination. These findings indicate that preventive interventions are needed for both sexual and drug-related high-risk behavior. Additionally, non-injecting drug users should be targeted for HBV vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Fabiana P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Teles
authors.forename: Carmen L R
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Ana Rita C
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Motta-Castro
authors.forename: Antônia C M
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Novais
authors.forename: Francisco J D
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Souto
authors.forename: Regina M B
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D055030:Drug Users / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral