Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers among children and adolescents in the south brazilian region: metropolitan area of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina

Abstract

Hepatitis B and C are important causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Brazil, according to the Ministry of Health, about 15% of population is infected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and less than 1% by hepatitis C virus (HCV). Nevertheless, the age-specific prevalence of HBV and HCV markers remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV markers of infection and immunity in children and adolescents between 10 to 16 years old who live in the metropolitan area of Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, South of Brazil. Three hundred and eighty four individuals were enrolled in this study. Serological markers for HBV and HCV (HBsAg, total anti-HBc, anti-HBc IgM, anti-HBs and anti-HCV) were determined through Microparticle Enzyme Immunosorbant Assay (MEIA) -AxSYM System® -by using commercial diagnostic kits (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, USA). All 384 adolescents (100%) were negative for HBsAg and anti-HBc IgM. Only two (0.52%) were positive for total anti-HBc. Among the studied individuals, 226 (58.85%) presented titers of anti-HBs ≥ 10.0mIU/mL, 121 (31.51%) presented anti HBs < 10.0mIU/mL, and 37 (9.64%) did not present titers of anti-HBs. Regarding to anti-HCV, all 384 adolescents (100%) presented negative results for this marker. In conclusion, this study showed a low prevalence of HBV and HCV infections. In addition, it was verified a great number of children and adolescents (89.84%) who were positive for the immunity marker anti-HBs, implying that the National Immunization Program Protocol for hepatitis B has been effective in the studied region.

Hepatitis B marker seroprevalence and vaccination coverage in adolescents in the City of Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, in 2008

“…In this study, a low prevalence of HBV infection of 1.1% was verified, similar to that of adolescents and young adults from developed countries, where hepatitis B vaccination programs are fully implemented, such as Italy (0.9%) 19 , Spain (0.9%) 20 and the United States (1%) 21 , and that verified in a nationwide study in northeastern and central-western Brazil (1.3%) 22 and by our group in the metropolitan area of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil (0.5%) 23 . In contrast, this prevalence is lower than that of Greece (2.5%) 24 and of developing regions, where HBV vaccination programs are only partially implemented or not implemented at all, such as Mexico (5%) 25 , Bolivia (6.9%) 26 and central Brazil (5.9%) 27 .…”

Vaccination coverage and immunity against hepatitis B among HIV-infected patients in South Brazil

“…[23][24][25]29,30 However, it is important to point out that the comparison of results is difficult as the maintenance of anti-HBs titers may be influenced by the time elapsed since vaccination and the level of exposure to hepatitis B virus. 31 The rates of HIV-infected individuals who develop anti-HBs levels ≥10 IU/L after receiving the standard, accelerated, or four double-dose schedules are variable, ranging from 38.7% to 91.0%.…”

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection markers and socio-demographic risk factors in HIV-infected patients in Southern Brazil

“…Studies performed in southern Brazil between 2009 and 2010 showed that the vaccination coverage of children and adolescents who were born after the hepatitis B vaccination was introduced was over 92% 32 and that the HBsAg and antiHBc prevalences were less than 1% and 10%, respectively [32][33][34][35] . Hepatitis B virus vaccination began in 1992 for children younger than fi ve years of age and subsequently expanded to health professionals, students, fi refi ghters, police and the military in 1994 and to adults under 20 years old in 2001 36 .…”