Epidemiology and molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus infection in isolated villages in the Western Brazilian Amazon.

ABSTRACT: Individuals from three isolated, rural communities in the western Brazilian Amazon were evaluated for serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, HBV genotype, and the presence of risk factors for infection and transmission. Of the 225 individuals studied, 79.1% had serological evidence of HBV infection; 10.2% individuals were chronic carriers for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg-positive). Analysis of risk factors indicates that HBV is transmitted mainly horizontally within the family from a chronic "active" carrier for hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg-positive), though a strong possibility of vertical transmission remains. The predominance of HBV genotype F, with a higher genomic similarity between the isolates, indicated a relatively recent introduction of HBV, from a common sourc

SUBMITTER: Castilho Mda C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3516333 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature