title: Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections among the general population and blood donors in Morocco.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Viral hepatitis is a serious public health problem affecting billions of people globally. Limited information is available on this issue in Morocco. This cross-sectional study was undertaken with the aim of determining the seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among the general population and among blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from volunteers, have been screened with ELISA tests for detecting the hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV. Within the seroreactive patients for HCV in the general population, RT-PCR was performed by the Cobas Ampliprep/Cobas Amplicor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV and HBV-seropositivity was documented in 1.58% and 1.81% out of 41269 and 23578 participants respectively from the general population. Two patients were found to be co-infected. HCV-RNA was detected by PCR in 70.9% of the 195 anti-HCV positive subjects. The anti-HCV prevalence was not different among males and females (P = 0.3). It increased with age; the highest prevalence was observed among subjects with >50 years old (3.12%). Various risk factors for acquiring HCV infection were identified; age, dental treatment, use of glass syringes and surgical history. In addition to these factors, gender and sexual risk behaviors were found to be associated with higher prevalence of hepatitis B. The HBV positivity was significantly higher among males than females participants in all age groups (P < 0.01). The peak was noticed among males aged 30-49 years (2.4%). None of the 152 persons younger than 20 years had HBsAg or anti-HCV. The prevalence of anti-HCV and HBsAg among 169605 blood donors was 0.62% and 0.96% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provided much important information concerning hepatitis B and C prevalence and risk factors; it confirmed the intermediate endemicity for HCV infection and pointed to a decreasing trend of HBV incidence, which might reclassify Morocco in low HBV endemicity area. This could be attributed primarily to the universal HBV vaccination among infants and healthcare workers over the past 13 years. HCV and HBV infections in the present survey were mainly associated with nosocomial exposures. Prevention and control of HBV infection are needed to reduce HBV transmission between adults.
authors: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Medical Biology, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, 1 Place Louis Pasteur, Casablanca 20360, Morocco.
authors: Warda
authors: W
authors: Baha
authors: Abderrahim
authors: A
authors: Foullous
authors: Noureddine
authors: N
authors: Dersi
authors: Thierry Paluku
authors: TP
authors: They-they
authors: Khadija
authors: K
authors: El alaoui
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Nourichafi
authors: Bouchra
authors: B
authors: Oukkache
authors: Fatiha
authors: F
authors: Lazar
authors: Soumaya
authors: S
authors: Benjelloun
authors: My Mustapha
authors: MM
authors: Ennaji
authors: Abdelouhad
authors: A
authors: Elmalki
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Mifdal
authors: Abdelouaheb
authors: A
authors: Bennani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies