Epidemiology and Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Isolated Villages in the Western Brazilian Amazon

Márcia da Costa Castilho Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Gerência de Virologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais e Infecciosas Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

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Cintia Mara Costa de Oliveira Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Gerência de Virologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais e Infecciosas Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

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João Bosco de Lima Gimaque Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Gerência de Virologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais e Infecciosas Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

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Jorge Di Tommaso Leão Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Gerência de Virologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais e Infecciosas Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

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Wornei Silva Miranda Braga Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado, Gerência de Virologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais e Infecciosas Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

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Individuals from three isolated, rural communities in the western Brazilian Amazon were evaluated for serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, HBV genotype, and the presence of risk factors for infection and transmission. Of the 225 individuals studied, 79.1% had serological evidence of HBV infection; 10.2% individuals were chronic carriers for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg-positive). Analysis of risk factors indicates that HBV is transmitted mainly horizontally within the family from a chronic “active” carrier for hepatitis B “e” antigen (HBeAg-positive), though a strong possibility of vertical transmission remains. The predominance of HBV genotype F, with a higher genomic similarity between the isolates, indicated a relatively recent introduction of HBV, from a common source, to the area. This study sheds light on the HBV epidemiology in the Brazilian Amazon region and highlights the need for greater emphasis on HBV control and immunization programs.

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Má;rcia da Costa Castilho, Av. Pedro Teixeira, n 25, Bairro Dom Pedro, CEP: 69040-000, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. E-mail: mcastilho@fmt.am.gov.br

Financial support: This work was financially supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM).

Authors' addresses: Márcia da Costa Castilho, Cintia Mara Costa de Oliveira, João Bosco de Lima Gimaque, Jorge Di Tommaso Leão, and Wornei Silva Miranda Braga, Gerência de Virologia, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, E-mails: mcastilho@fmt.am.gov.br, cmaraoliveira@hotmail.com, gimaque@ig.com.br, jorgeleao18@hotmail.com, and wornei.braga@hotmail.com.

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