Epidemiology and molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus in Luanda, Angola

AUTOR(ES)

Valente, Fatima, Lago, Barbara Vieira do, Castro, Carlos Augusto Velasco de, Almeida, Adilson José de, Gomes, Selma A, Soares, Caroline Cordeiro

FONTE

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2010-12

RESUMO

An estimated 360 million people are infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) worldwide. Among these, 65 million live in Africa. Despite the high levels of hepatitis B in Africa, HBV epidemiology is still poorly documented in most African countries. In this work, the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HBV infection were evaluated among the staff, visitors and adult patients (n = 508) of a public hospital in Luanda, Angola. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and hepatitis B surface antigen was 79.7% and 15.1%, respectively. HBV infection was higher in males and was more prevalent in individuals younger than 50 years old. HBV-DNA was detected in 100% of HBV "e" antigen-positive serum samples and in 49% of anti-hepatitis Be antibody-positive samples. Thirty-five out of the 40 HBV genotypes belonged to genotype E. Circulation of genotypes A (4 samples) and D (1 sample) was also observed. The present study demonstrates that HBV infection is endemic in Luanda, which has a predominance of genotype E. This genotype is only sporadically found outside of Africa and is thought to have emerged in Africa at a time when the trans-Atlantic slave trade had stopped.

Documentos Relacionados

• Chlamydia trachomatis in gynaecological infections in Luanda, Angola.
• Infecção por Plasmodium falciparum em mulheres grávidas em consultas pré-natal em Luanda, Angola
• Prevalence of antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2 in women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Luanda, Angola.
• Molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus Variants in Nonhuman Primates
• Habitação social para além da sobrevivência: caso dos bairros Zango I e II em Luanda, Angola (2002- 2012)