Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in individuals with clinical evidence of hepatitis in Goiania, Goias. Detection of viral DNA and determination of subtypes

ABSTRACT

The presence of serological markers for hepatitis B virus (HBsAg, anti-HBc IgM and Anti-HBc total) was investigated in the serum of 1,396 individuals who had clinical suspect of hepatitis. It was observed that 50.7 percent of the individuals were positive and, from the total of the studied individuals, 14.5 percent were positive for HBsAg. From these, 8.5 percent were also positive for anti-HBc IgM. The analysis in relation to gender showed a higher seroprevalence index among male individuals (p < 0.0001). It was observed the occurrence of subtypes adw2 (62.7 percent), ayw3 (23.5 percent), ayw2 (9.8 percent) and adw4 (3.9 percent). The viral DNA was detected in 61 (33.9 percent) HBsAg positive samples and in one sample positive only for anti-HBc total. These results indicate an important incidence of the HBV infection in this population, and reinforce previous studies regarding this virus in the central west region of Brazil