Seroepidemiological Differences Between Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Urban Areas and the Amerindian Population in Venezuela

Abstract

Viral hepatitis caused by the B virus (HBV) is considered to be a serious health problem in many Latin American countries (PAHO report, 1985). Differences in the prevalence of HBV worldwide according to geographic area have been reported, and this is probably related to sociocultural habits, income, and sanitation (McCollum and Zuckerman, 1981; PAHO report, 1985). The presence of delta virus has al so been documented among Latin American Indian communities with a high endemicity of HBV infection (PAHO report, 1985). In Venezuela, there is a low prevalence of HBsAg among blood-donor volunteers (Mazzur et al., 1980).