title: The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in mashhad, iran: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most common and serious liver infection in the world. An estimated 350 million people are chronic carriers of this virus, of whom, more than 620,000 die from liver-related diseases annually. Due to the vaccination program, prevalence of HBV, particularly among the younger generation, is reported to have declined in recent years in Iran.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HBV infection in Mashhad, North-East of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three thousand one hundred and ninety eight (3198) individuals living in Mashhad were studied using cluster sampling method. HBV infection was determined by HBsAg ELISA commercial kit. Positive results were subjected for PCR using HBV-specific primers. HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb-IgM ELISA tests were performed for HBsAg-positive samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' age ranged from 15 to 65 years (Mean = 35.54 ± 14.85). Thirty four (1.0%) of the subjects were positive for HBsAg, of whom, 2.9 % (1 of 34 cases) were also positive in PCR-based screening. ELISA tests for HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb IgM were positive in one (2.9 %), 27 (79.4%) and one (2.9 %) cases, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results, HBsAg was positive in 0.53 of the total population. The prevalence of HBV infection was seemingly low in Mashhad; however, an upward trend was observed in older subjects probably due to successful HBV vaccination coverage in the younger generation. Continuous surveillance and periodic population-based studies are essential to monitor the prevalence of HBV infection in Mashhad in the future.
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Public Health School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Taghi
authors: MT
authors: Shakeri
authors: Bahareh
authors: B
authors: Foghanian
authors: Hosein
authors: H
authors: Nomani
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Ghayour-Mobarhan
authors: Maryam Sadat
authors: MS
authors: Nabavinia
authors: Sina
authors: S
authors: Rostami
authors: Mitra
authors: M
authors: Ahadi
authors: Zahra
authors: Z
authors: Meshkat
keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Prevalence
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