Determination of hepatitis B, C and D prevalence among urban and Amerindian populations from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon: a cross sectional study

• Published in: BMC infectious diseases Vol. 18; no. 1; p. 411
• Main Authors: Villar, Livia Melo, Milagres, Flavio Augusto Pádua, Lampe, Elisabeth, Cruz, Helena Medina, Scalioni, Leticia de Paula, Magalhães, Monica de Avelar Figueiredo Mafra, Romão, Anselmo Rocha, Gracie, Renata, de Paula, Vanessa Salete
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 20.08.2018; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amerindians; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Distribution; Eastern Amazon; Evaluation; Female; Health aspects; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - blood; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - blood; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis D; Hepatitis D - blood; Hepatitis D - epidemiology; Humans; Indians, North American - statistics & numerical data; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Middle Aged; Native Americans; Prevalence; Public health administration; Rivers; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Viral hepatitis; Young Adult; Amazon River region; Amerindians; North Brazil; Prevalence; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis D; Eastern Amazon; Hepatitis B
• ISSN: 1471-2334; 1471-2334
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-018-3279-2

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HDV in urban populations and Amerindians living in the state of Tocantins (Eastern Amazon). A total of 948 individuals were recruited in Tocantinopolis city (Tocantins state) of whom 603 were Amerindians (from 6 tribes) and 345 were non-Amerindians (6 urban areas of Tocantinópolis city). Anti-HCV, HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, anti-HBc IgM, anti-HBe, HBeAg, and anti-delta antibodies were determined using enzyme immunoassay. HBV cleared infection (both anti-HBc/anti-HBs+), chronic inactive/immune controlled HBV infection (anti-HBc + only), previous HBV vaccination (anti-HBs + only), active HBV infection (HBsAg+), individuals susceptible to HBV, and anti-HCV reactivity were found in 12.9, 1.8, 27.2, 0.5, 57.7, 1.2% in Amerindians and 12.1, 2.0, 37.1, 0.3, 55.4, 0.3% in non-Amerindians respectively. Out of 139 anti-HBc reactive individuals, 70 were anti-HBe reactive and none presented HBeAg or anti-HBc IgM. Anti-HBc prevalence was associated to older age (p < 0.0001). Overall anti-Delta prevalence was 0.3% and regarding anti-HBc reactive individuals, anti-delta prevalence was 3.4 and 0% in Amerindians and non-Amerindians respectively. Overall low prevalence of HBV and HCV infection was found in the populations studied, but high HBV and HCV prevalence was observed in Amerindians compared to non-Amerindians suggesting that these individuals have a higher likelihood of acquiring to these infections. Anti-delta antibodies were found among Amerindians from Eastern Amazon suggesting a risk for this population. Of note is that nearly half of Amerindians had no anti-HBs, indicating a need for HBV vaccination campaigns in this population.