title: Hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis delta (HDV) viruses in the Colombian population--how is the epidemiological situation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viral hepatitis B, C and delta still remain a serious problem worldwide. In Colombia, data from 1980s described that HBV and HDV infection are important causes of hepatitis, but little is known about HCV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the currently frequency of HBV, HCV and HDV in four different Colombian regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study was conducted in 697 habitants from 4 Colombian departments: Amazonas, Chocó, Magdalena and San Andres Islands. Epidemiological data were obtained from an interview applied to each individual aiming to evaluate risk factors related to HBV, HCV or HDV infections. All samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs and anti-HCV markers. Samples that were positive to HBsAg and/or anti-HBc were tested to anti-HDV. Concerning the geographical origin of the samples, the three HBV markers showed a statistically significant difference: HBsAg (p = 0.033) and anti-HBc (p<0.001) were more frequent in Amazonas and Magdalena departments. Isolated anti-HBs (a marker of previous vaccination) frequencies were: Chocó (53.26%), Amazonas (32.88%), Magdalena (17.0%) and San Andrés (15.33%)--p<0.001. Prevalence of anti-HBc increased with age; HBsAg varied from 1.97 to 8.39% (p = 0.033). Amazonas department showed the highest frequency for anti-HCV marker (5.68%), while the lowest frequency was found in San Andrés Island (0.66%). Anti-HDV was found in 9 (5.20%) out of 173 anti-HBc and/or HBsAg positive samples, 8 of them from the Amazonas region and 1 from them Magdalena department.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, HBV, HCV and HDV infections are detected throughout Colombia in frequency levels that would place some areas as hyperendemic for HBV, especially those found in Amazonas and Magdalena departments. Novel strategies to increase HBV immunization in the rural population and to strengthen HCV surveillance are reinforced by these results.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, São Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine and Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. monica.viviana@usp.br
authors.forename: Mónica Viviana
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Alvarado-Mora
authors.forename: María Fernanda Gutierrez
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Michele Soares
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gomes-Gouvêa
authors.forename: Raymundo Soares
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: de Azevedo Neto
authors.forename: Flair José
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Carrilho
authors.forename: João Renato Rebello
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pinho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D012367:RNA, Viral