title: Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in internally displaced persons of war against terrorism in Swat, Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B and C are the most common blood-borne liver infections worldwide. According to the recent estimates, 270-300 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and more than 2 billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Transmission of these viruses is carried out by exposure to infectious blood or body fluids containing blood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five-hundred and ninety (290 males and 300 females, 5-65 years) internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Swat area of northern Pakistan were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies using immune-chromatography kits. The subjects, positive for virus-related antibody, were further confirmed for viral RNA (for HCV) and DNA (for HBV) in the blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The virus of PCR-confirmed HCV-individuals was further genotyped and the prevalence of HCV infection was determined with respect to age, sex, history of exposure to blood or surgical operation and different types of liver diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HCV infection was found to be the predominant liver infection in the population which was 91% of the positive cases, as against 9% of HBV. Among the HCV-positive subjects (68% females, 32% males) 56% were asymptomatic. No co-incidence of HBV and HCV was found in any subject. Genotype 3a was the dominant strain of HCV followed by 2a > 3b > 1b > 1a, 2b.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The viral hepatitis among the apparently healthy population of a relatively natural and pollution free environment refers to an alarming condition about liver infections, particularly of HCV, in Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan. arshak@brain.net.pk
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauf
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahid
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nadeem
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Muhammad Muzammal
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: Muhammad Zahid
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Latif
authors.forename: Nisar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Abdul Rauf
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shakoori
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012036:Refugees; D023481:Terrorism; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D017931:DNA Primers