Transmissibility of Hepatitis B Virus in a Japanese-Descendant Family in the Northwestern Region of the State of Paraná, Brazil

  • Cristiane Emi Sugiura Universidade Estadual de Maringá
  • Dennis Armando Bertolini Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Keywords: Hepatitis B, Vertical Transmission, Intra-Family Transmission.

Abstract

WHO estimates that approximately two billion people have already been in contact with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) at any one time in their life and some 325 million people actually acquire the disease. Current research analyzes the exposition to HBV in a Japanese-descendant and show the importance of family conviviality in the transmission of the disease. The following 33 subjects participated in the research: the family’s matriarch (matrix), 6 sons, 4 sons-in-law, 3 daughters-in-law and 19 grandchildren. Serum markers AgHBs, anti-HBc and anti-HBs were researched, employing the enzymatic micro-particle methodology and laboratory exams previously undertaken by the subjects. In the context of the 33 subjects, 3 (9.1%) had AgHBs; 19 (57.6%) had anti-HBc and 18 (54.5%) had anti-HBs. Whereas susceptibility to HBV was verified in 6 (18.2%) subjects, 8 (24.2%) were immunized by vaccine. A high percentage of the subjects revealed serum marks of past (48.5%) and chronic (9.1%) infections. Results show that the family milieu is one of the main HBV reservoirs and contributes towards the dissemination and propagation of the virus.

Author Biographies

Cristiane Emi Sugiura, Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Farmacêutica; Especialista em Análises Clínicas pela Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM. E-mail: cris_sugiura@yahoo.com.br
Dennis Armando Bertolini, Universidade Estadual de Maringá
Docente Doutor do departamento de Análises Clínicas na Universidade Estadual de Maringá - UEM. E-mail: dabertolini@uem.br
Published
2010-10-04
Section
Artigos Originais