Seroepidemiology of chronic hepatitis B and C in the French Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and C was evaluated some twenty years ago among specific populations in Guadeloupe. The present study was designed to update these data and determine epidemiological features of chronic hepatitis B and C infections in the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.


RESULTS
The present study was carried out at the Sainte Genevieve Health and Prevention Center (Guadeloupe), between May 2006 and July 2007. This is a medical center where patients can attend a free medical check-up paid for by the Social Security system. Data on hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) status and epidemiological factors were collected for this study.A total of 2,200 patients were included in the study. The prevalence of HBV surface antigen was 1.41% (95% CI: 1.0-2.0), and 0.55% (95% CI: 0.28-0.96) for HCV. The vaccination rate against HBV was 42.0%. HBV transmission was associated with piercing (12.9%, p = 0.014) and familial exposure (6.4%, p < 0.001) and HCV transmission with gynecological surgery (50.0%, p = 0.01). The HBV profile was generally hepatitis B e antigen-negative (94.5%). No hepatitis delta was found. For HCV, genotype 1 was predominant (80%).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study on the prevalence of HBV and HCV among a general clinic based population in Guadeloupe and the Caribbean islands. This study reveals that Guadeloupe is an area of low endemicity for HBV and low HCV prevalence. The reasons for these low prevalence rates are mainly related to the vaccination campaigns carried out during the past twenty years for HBV and the decrease of nosocomial transmission for HCV.
Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Pointe-à-Pitre, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. moana.simeon@chu-guadeloupe.fr.
Moana
M
Gelu-Simeon
Valérie
V
Pillas
Jacqueline
J
Deloumeaux
Hélène
H
Delacroix-Maillard
Georgette
G
Saint-Georges
Léonardo
L
Do Amaral
Marius
M
Borel
Marc
M
Laurent
Emmanuel
E
Gordien
Eric
E
Saillard
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D019430:Guadeloupe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines