The prevalence of viral hepatitis (HAV, HBV and HCV) in the Christchurch community
Chapman, B.A.; Burt, M.J.; Frampton, C.M.; Collett, J.A.; Yeo, K.H.; Wilkinson, I.D.; Cook, H.B.; Barclay, M.J.; Ross, A.G.; George, P.M.
New Zealand Medical Journal 113(1118): 394-396
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-8446 PMID: 11062814 Document Number: 526062
Aim: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) in adults randomly selected from the Christchurch community. Methods: A list of names was randomly generated from the Christchurch electoral roll and subjects were sequentially contacted and invited to participate. A blood sample was taken and tested for hepatitis A (IgG anti-HAV antibody), hepatitis B (HBsAg and anti-HBc) and HCV (anti-HCV antibody) using Abbott Elisa kits. Subjects positive for HBsAg were also tested for HBeAg/HBV DNA. Those positive for anti-HBc were tested for anti-HBs. HCV antibody positive samples were tested for HCV RNA using PCR. Results: 1064 subjects (30.3% of those invited) participated in the study. The prevalence of HAV antibodies was 27.9%, and increased with age. The overall prevalence of HBV markers was 42/1064 (4.2%), and of these 0.36% were HBsAg positive and 3.9% were considered immune. No gender or ethnic differences in these proportions were observed. The seroprevalence of HVC-antibody was 3/1064 (0.3%), two of whom were also PCR positive for HCV RNA. Conclusion: In the Christchurch community there was a high prevalence of antibodies, to HAV, which increased with age. The prevalence of HBsAg and antibody to HCV were both low at 0.3%.