Prevalência dos marcadores sorológicos dos vírus da hepatite B e D em crianças das tribos Caiabietxucarramãe do parque indígena do Xingu, Brasil central

Abstract

The medical literature has shown that the inhabitants of the Amazon region are highly affected by hepatitis B and delta viruses infection, but this has never been studied in Indian children by age group. A study of the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and delta viruses in Indian children aged 0 to 14 years living in the PIX was carried out. This Park is located in Central Brazil, a region which is in the transition between the savannab to the south and the Amazon jungle to the north. To determine the prevalence of HBV and HDV markers in Indian children and to characterize the route of HBV transmission in this region. Out of the 17 tribes living in the PIX, two--the Caiabi and the Txucarramãe--were chosen because both live in the North part of the Park, but have quite different ways of life. The overall prevalence of HBV serum markers was: HBsAg, 4.5%; anti-HBs, 39.6%; anti-HBc, 44.1%; any marker of HBV, 47.3%; and anti-HDV, 0.0%. However, a striking difference in the prevalence of hepatitis B markers was observed between the two tribes: younger Caiabi children were much less affected than the Txucarramãe ones. The prevalence of HBsAg in fertile women was 12%, being anti-HBe positive. Our data suggest that HBV infection is highly prevalent among Indian children living in this Indigenous Park and vertical infection is not an important route of transmission in either tribes.

An outbreak of fulminant hepatitis delta in the Waorani, an indigenous people of the Amazon basin of Ecuador.

“…In fact, the Waorani have the highest HBV prevalence of any Amazonian group investigated to date. [1][2][3][4][7][8][9] Many investigators have sought to determine the modes of transmission of HBV, particularly in populations where it is hyperendemic. Vertical (perinatal) transmission alone would not be adequate to produce the high prevalence of HBV infection seen among the Waorani, since only 11% of reproductive age women appear to be carriers of the virus.…”

“…Other investigators have also found a high prevalence of HBV infection in young children in Amazonian populations where the disease is hyperendemic. 1,4,[8][9][10]13,20,21 Several alternative hypotheses have been proposed to explain the efficient horizontal transmission of HBV and HDV in hyperendemic populations. These include contact with infected skin lesions; 22-24 insect vectors; [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] cultural practices that involve puncturing or cutting the skin, receiving injections, the sharing of beds, razors or other personal items; 1,2,31 dental care; 2,32,33 and household contact.…”

“…[4][5][6]9,[12][13][14][15] Evidence of HDV infection has been found in various South American groups in which HBV infection is endemic 1,[3][4][5]7,16 and not in others. 2,8 To our knowledge, HDV infection has never before been reported in Ecuador. We describe the investigation of an outbreak of fulminant hepatitis caused by HDV in the Waorani people of Ecuador, among whom we confirmed HBV infection to be highly endemic.…”

“…Serologic markers for HBV infection have been found at rates of 25 to 83% among Amazonian peoples in Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] A study of the Waorani, an indigenous people of the Amazon basin of Ecuador, reported antibodies to the Hepatitis B core (HBc) in 74% of people living in three villages, but none of those living in a fourth community. 10 Infection with hepatitis D virus (HDV) can only occur in individuals who are also infected with HBV.…”

Evidências científicas sobre a hepatite Delta no Brasil: revisão integrativa da literatura

“…(27) Cross-sectional study (descriptive) Studies the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and delta in indigenous children from 0 to 14 years living in the Xingu Indigenous Park. (28) Cross-sectional study (descriptive) Identifies epidemiological patterns and risk factors for HBV and HDV infections in Barcelos, at the Rio Negro basin, Amazon region. …”