[Hepatitis A and hepatitis B seroprevalence in 4 centers in Brazil]

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2000 Jan-Feb;33(1):1-10. doi: 10.1590/s0037-86822000000100001.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A and B virus was assessed in 3,653 subjects across four regions of Brazil. The anti-HAV and anti-HBc seroprevalence were 64.7% and 7.9%, respectively. The highest anti-HAV (92.8%) and anti-HBc (21.4%) rates were seen in the Northern region. In other regions, anti-HAV seroprevalence over 90% was only reached in the more elderly, indicating an intermediate endemicity and a significantly higher anti-HAV prevalence was seen in the low socioeconomic group between 1-30 years. With respect to anti-HBc seroprevalence an increase was seen in adolescents and there was a significantly higher anti-HBc prevalence in the lower socioeconomic group between 1-20 years. A 3.1% anti-HBc prevalence was seen in one-year-old infants, suggesting a vertical transmission. The major findings of this study indicate that the pre-adolescent and adolescent population in some Brazilian cities are at greatest risk from both hepatitis A and B infection, but for different reasons.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hepatitis A / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis A / immunology
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies / blood
  • Hepatovirus / immunology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Sex Distribution
  • Socioeconomic Factors

Substances

  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Antibodies