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Seroepidemiological study of HBV infections in Athens, Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

G. Papaevangelou ,
A. Kyriakidou ,
C. Vissoulis  and
D. Trichopoulos
G. Papaevangelou
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens
A. Kyriakidou
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens
C. Vissoulis
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens
D. Trichopoulos
Affiliation:
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens
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Summary

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A seroepidemiological survey of a sample – roughly representative by age and sex – of 2744 persons of the Greater Athens area revealed that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections are highly endemic in Greece. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 72 (2·6 %) of them. The subtype was identified in 70 of the 72 carriers, and 69 were ay; the other was ad. Determinant w was present in all 61 that were capable of being typed further, and a23y(w) was twice as common as a11y(w). Antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) was found in 514 (18·7%) persons. The prevalence of the HBsAg rose rapidly with age, reaching peak values (5·3%) at 20–29 years, while anti-HBs reached its highest value (42·1%) in older age groups (50–59 years). The frequency of HBsAg was significantly higher in males (3·4%) than in females (1·5%). The percentage of infected persons who become chronic HBsAg carriers (12·3%) was found higher than in other developed populations. It was also found higher in children (25%) than in adults (5·5%) and in males (14·6%) than in females (8·1%). These data indicate that HBV infection in early life is a major risk factor in the development of HBsAg carriers and support the hypothesis that males are more likely to become HBsAg carriers than females.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 76 , Issue 2 , April 1976 , pp. 229 - 234
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

References

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