Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Albania.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Albania.


METHODS
Blood samples from 410 unselected schoolboys, 666 students, 500 military personnel, 1286 casual blood donors, 378 voluntary blood donors and 640 pregnant women (total 3880 non-vaccinated residents of rural and metropolitan areas from all over Albania; 2354 (60.7%) male and 1526 (39.3%) female; mean age of 26.3 years) were tested during 2004-2006 for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to hepatitis B virus (anti-HBs) by ELISA.


RESULTS
The HBsAg and anti-HBs prevalence were 9.5% and 28.7%, respectively. The highest HBsAg prevalence was evident in the younger age group, such as in schoolchildren (11.8%) and the military (10.6%). Consequently, the anti-HBs prevalence increased with age, from 21.2% in schoolchildren (mean age: 15.7 years), to 36.3% in pregnant women (mean age: 26.3 years) and 29.7% in voluntary blood donors (mean age: 40.1 years). There were no significant differences between males and females.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the estimated two-fold reduction of HBsAg prevalence in the general population from about 18%-19% to 9.5%, Albania remains a highly endemic country (i.e. over 8% of HBsAg prevalence rate).
Resuli
Bashkim
B
University Clinic of Gastrohepatology, University Hospital Center Mother Teresa, Dibra st, nr 371, Tirana, Albania. resuli@albmail.com
Prifti
Skerdi
S
Kraja
Bledar
B
Nurka
Tatjana
T
Basho
Mimoza
M
Sadiku
Edita
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens