Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B virus in an urban population of northeast Brazil

Lyra, L. G.; Damasceno, A. P.; Cotrim, P.; Mota, E.; Silva, L.

doi:10.1590/S0036-46651986000600005

Abstracts

A sample of 1,288 inhabitants of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, were submitted to the determination of anti-HBs using radioimmunoassay procedure, and analysed according to age, sex and income. Overall prevalence of anti-HBs was 11,8%. ranging from 6,7% among children aged less than three years old to 26,1% among those aged 30 years and older. Males presented prevalence of anti-HBs similar to female individuals, and those with a higher income showed frequencies of anti-HBs greater than those with a lower income level. The following conclusions were drawn: The high prevalence of anti-HBs observed among children suggests early contact with hepatitis B virus, possibly due to vertical transmission and intrafamiliar dissemination of the disease; the frequency of anti-HBs increases with age; the lower prevalence of anti-HBs among those with low income suggests that this group may present higher prevalence of carriers of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

Virus hepatitis B; Epidemiology; Antibodies; Northeast Brazil

Um grupo de 1.288 indivíduos, residentes em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, foi examinado para a determinação de anti-HBs, utilizando-se a técnica do radioimunoensaio. Os resultados foram analisados de acordo com a idade, o sexo e o nível de renda. Uma prevalência de anti-HBs de 11,8% foi observada, variando de 6,7% nas crianças com idade inferior a três anos, a 26,1% para aqueles com idade superior a 30 anos. A prevalência de anti-HBs foi similar em indivíduos do sexo masculino e feminino. Aqueles com nível de renda mais alto tiberam prevalência de anti-HBs maior que o grupo de renda baixa. Dos resultados conclui-se: a alta prevalência de anti-HBs em crianças sugere o contato precoce com o vírus da hepatite B, possivelmente relacionado com a transmissão vertical e a disseminação intraíamiliar do vírus; a freqüência de anti-HBs aumentou com a idade; a baixa prevalência de anti-HBs entre aqueles com baixo nível sócio-econômico sugere que neste grupo pode ser alta a prevalência de portadores do vírus B da hepatite.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B virus in an urban population of northeast Brazil

Prevalência de anticorpos contra o vírus da hepatite B em população urbana do nordeste brasileiro.

L. G. Lyra^I; A. P. Damasceno^II; P. Cotrim^III; E. Mota^IV; L. Silva^V

^IAssociate Professor. Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Federal University of Bahia

^IIAssistant Professor, Medical School, University of Piauí

^IIIAssistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Federal University of Bahia

^IVAssistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine Medical School, Federal University of Bahia

^VAssistant Professor, Department of Child and Maternal Health, Medical School, Federal University o£ Bahia Correspondence to: Dr. Luiz G. Lyra Hospital Prof. Kdgard Santos Rua João das Botas, s/n.º Canelas 40000 Salvador BA, Brasil

SUMMARY

A sample of 1,288 inhabitants of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, were submitted to the determination of anti-HBs using radioimmunoassay procedure, and analysed according to age, sex and income. Overall prevalence of anti-HBs was 11,8%. ranging from 6,7% among children aged less than three years old to 26,1% among those aged 30 years and older. Males presented prevalence of anti-HBs similar to female individuals, and those with a higher income showed frequencies of anti-HBs greater than those with a lower income level. The following conclusions were drawn: The high prevalence of anti-HBs observed among children suggests early contact with hepatitis B virus, possibly due to vertical transmission and intrafamiliar dissemination of the disease; the frequency of anti-HBs increases with age; the lower prevalence of anti-HBs among those with low income suggests that this group may present higher prevalence of carriers of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

Key words: Virus hepatitis B Epidemiology Antibodies Northeast Brazil

RESUMO

Um grupo de 1.288 indivíduos, residentes em Salvador, Bahia, Brasil, foi examinado para a determinação de anti-HBs, utilizando-se a técnica do radioimunoensaio. Os resultados foram analisados de acordo com a idade, o sexo e o nível de renda. Uma prevalência de anti-HBs de 11,8% foi observada, variando de 6,7% nas crianças com idade inferior a três anos, a 26,1% para aqueles com idade superior a 30 anos. A prevalência de anti-HBs foi similar em indivíduos do sexo masculino e feminino. Aqueles com nível de renda mais alto tiberam prevalência de anti-HBs maior que o grupo de renda baixa. Dos resultados conclui-se: a alta prevalência de anti-HBs em crianças sugere o contato precoce com o vírus da hepatite B, possivelmente relacionado com a transmissão vertical e a disseminação intraíamiliar do vírus; a freqüência de anti-HBs aumentou com a idade; a baixa prevalência de anti-HBs entre aqueles com baixo nível sócio-econômico sugere que neste grupo pode ser alta a prevalência de portadores do vírus B da hepatite.

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Recebido para publicação em 25/11/1985.

This work was parttially supported by a grant from the Brazilian Research Council (Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa), project n.° 403489/81 and contracts n.°s: 302239-83 , 302229-83 and 302190-83, and was carried out at the Hepatology unit of Hospital Professor Edgard Santos, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.

1. ANTONÁCIO, P. Antígeno Austrália em doadores de sangue São Paulo, 1971. (Tese de doutoramento Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo).
2. BARRETO, D. H.; BURKS, J. MV. McMAHON, et al. Epidemiology of hepatitis B in two Alaskan communities. Amer. J. Epidem., 105: 118-122, 1977.
3. GOMES, L. S. C. Estudo clínico e histológico de portadores assintomâticos do antígeno de superfície da hepatite B (AgHBs) e de seu anticorpo (anti-HBs) em Salvador, Bahia. Salvador, 1979. (Tese Faculdade de Mediicna da Universidade Federal do Bahia).
4. LYRA, L. G.; ANDRADE, Z. & REBOUÇAS, G. Hepatitis B surface antigen "Carrier State" in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Gastroenterology, 11: 641, 1975.
5. MAUPAS, P.; LAROUZE, B.; LONDON, W. T. et al. Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma. Lancet, 2: 8-11, 1975.
6. MAZZUR, S.; NATH, N.; PANG, C. et al. Distribuicion de marcadores de virus de hepatitis B (VHB) en la sangre de donadores de 13 países del hemisferio occidental. Actas Del Taller Latinoamericano de Cruz Roja sobre Hepatitis B. Bol. Ofic. sanit. panamer., 89: 239-248, 1980.
7. MAZZUR, S. & JONES, N. Distribution and persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in a Melanesian population. Amer. J. Epidem., 105: 107-112, 1977.
8. OHBAYASHI, A.; OKOCHI, K. & MAYUMMI, M. -Familial claustering of asymptomatic carriers of Australia antigen in patients with chronic liver disease or primary liver cancer. Gastroenterology, 62: 618-625, 1972.
9. OKADA, K. e al. Hepatitis B surface antigen in the serum of infants after delivery from symptomatic carrier mothers. J. Pediat., 80: 360, 1975.
10. PAPAEVANGELOU, G.; HOOFNAGLE, J. H. & KREMASTlNOU, J. Transplacental transmission of hepatitis B virus by symptom-free chronic carrier mothers. Lancet, 2: 746-748, 1974.
11. PRINCE, A. M. Prevalence of serum hepatitis antigen (SH) in different geographic regions. Amer. J. trop. Med. Hyg., 11: 872-879, 1970.
12. SCOTT, R.; SCHNEIDER, R. J.; SNITBHAN, R. et al. Factors relating to transmission of viral hepatitis in a United States Military Population Stationed in Thailand. Amer. J. Epidem., 113: 520-527, 1981.
13. SCHWEITZER, I. L.; MOSLEY, J. W.; ASHCAVAI, M. et al. Factors influencing neonatal infection by hepatitis B virus. Gastroenterology, 65: 277-283, 1973.
14. SOBESLAVSKY, O. Pravalenoe of markers of hepatitis B virus infection in various countries: a WHO collaborative study. Bull. Wld. Hlth. Org., 58: 621-628, 1980.
15. SKIHOJ, P. Hepatitis and hepatitis B antigen in Greenland. II Occurrence and interrelation of hepatitis B associated surface, core and antigen antibody system in a highly endemic area. Amer. J. Epidem., 105: 99-106, 1977.
16. STEVENS, C. E.; BEASLEY, R. P.; TSUI, J. & LEE, W. Vertical transmission of hepatitis B antigen in Taiwan. New Engl. J. Med., 293: 771-775, 1975.
17. SZMUNESS, W.; DIENSTAG, J. L.; PURCELL, R. H. Distribution of antibody to hepatitis A antigen in urban adult populations. New Engl. J. Med., 395: 755-759, 1976.
18. SZMUNESS, w. Recent advances in the study of the epidemiology of hepatitis B. Amer. J. Path., 81: 629-650, 1975.
19. VILLAREJOS, V. M.; PROVOST, P. J.; ITTENSOHN, O. L. et al. Seroepidemiologic investigations of human hepatitis caused by A, B, and possible third virus. Proc. Soc. exper. Biol. (N.Y.), 153: 525 528, 1976.
20. VYAS, G. N. & SHULMAN, N. R. Hemagglutination assay for antigen and antibody associated with viral hepatitis. Science, 170: 332-333, 1970.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
10 Oct 2012
Date of issue
Dec 1986

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. ANTONÁCIO, P. Antígeno Austrália em doadores de sangue São Paulo, 1971. (Tese de doutoramento Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo).

[2] 2. BARRETO, D. H.; BURKS, J. MV. McMAHON, et al. Epidemiology of hepatitis B in two Alaskan communities. Amer. J. Epidem., 105: 118-122, 1977.

[3] 3. GOMES, L. S. C. Estudo clínico e histológico de portadores assintomâticos do antígeno de superfície da hepatite B (AgHBs) e de seu anticorpo (anti-HBs) em Salvador, Bahia. Salvador, 1979. (Tese Faculdade de Mediicna da Universidade Federal do Bahia).

[4] 4. LYRA, L. G.; ANDRADE, Z. & REBOUÇAS, G. Hepatitis B surface antigen "Carrier State" in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Gastroenterology, 11: 641, 1975.

[5] 5. MAUPAS, P.; LAROUZE, B.; LONDON, W. T. et al. Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in patients with primary hepatic carcinoma. Lancet, 2: 8-11, 1975.

[6] 6. MAZZUR, S.; NATH, N.; PANG, C. et al. Distribuicion de marcadores de virus de hepatitis B (VHB) en la sangre de donadores de 13 países del hemisferio occidental. Actas Del Taller Latinoamericano de Cruz Roja sobre Hepatitis B. Bol. Ofic. sanit. panamer., 89: 239-248, 1980.

[7] 7. MAZZUR, S. & JONES, N. Distribution and persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody in a Melanesian population. Amer. J. Epidem., 105: 107-112, 1977.

[8] 8. OHBAYASHI, A.; OKOCHI, K. & MAYUMMI, M. -Familial claustering of asymptomatic carriers of Australia antigen in patients with chronic liver disease or primary liver cancer. Gastroenterology, 62: 618-625, 1972.

[9] 9. OKADA, K. e al. Hepatitis B surface antigen in the serum of infants after delivery from symptomatic carrier mothers. J. Pediat., 80: 360, 1975.

[10] 10. PAPAEVANGELOU, G.; HOOFNAGLE, J. H. & KREMASTlNOU, J. Transplacental transmission of hepatitis B virus by symptom-free chronic carrier mothers. Lancet, 2: 746-748, 1974.

[11] 11. PRINCE, A. M. Prevalence of serum hepatitis antigen (SH) in different geographic regions. Amer. J. trop. Med. Hyg., 11: 872-879, 1970.

[12] 12. SCOTT, R.; SCHNEIDER, R. J.; SNITBHAN, R. et al. Factors relating to transmission of viral hepatitis in a United States Military Population Stationed in Thailand. Amer. J. Epidem., 113: 520-527, 1981.

[13] 13. SCHWEITZER, I. L.; MOSLEY, J. W.; ASHCAVAI, M. et al. Factors influencing neonatal infection by hepatitis B virus. Gastroenterology, 65: 277-283, 1973.

[14] 14. SOBESLAVSKY, O. Pravalenoe of markers of hepatitis B virus infection in various countries: a WHO collaborative study. Bull. Wld. Hlth. Org., 58: 621-628, 1980.

[15] 15. SKIHOJ, P. Hepatitis and hepatitis B antigen in Greenland. II Occurrence and interrelation of hepatitis B associated surface, core and antigen antibody system in a highly endemic area. Amer. J. Epidem., 105: 99-106, 1977.

[16] 16. STEVENS, C. E.; BEASLEY, R. P.; TSUI, J. & LEE, W. Vertical transmission of hepatitis B antigen in Taiwan. New Engl. J. Med., 293: 771-775, 1975.

[17] 17. SZMUNESS, W.; DIENSTAG, J. L.; PURCELL, R. H. Distribution of antibody to hepatitis A antigen in urban adult populations. New Engl. J. Med., 395: 755-759, 1976.

[18] 18. SZMUNESS, w. Recent advances in the study of the epidemiology of hepatitis B. Amer. J. Path., 81: 629-650, 1975.

[19] 19. VILLAREJOS, V. M.; PROVOST, P. J.; ITTENSOHN, O. L. et al. Seroepidemiologic investigations of human hepatitis caused by A, B, and possible third virus. Proc. Soc. exper. Biol. (N.Y.), 153: 525 528, 1976.

[20] 20. VYAS, G. N. & SHULMAN, N. R. Hemagglutination assay for antigen and antibody associated with viral hepatitis. Science, 170: 332-333, 1970.