SEROLOGICAL HEPATITIS-A, HEPATITIS-B, AND HEPATITIS-C MARKERS IN MADAGASCAR - 1ST INVESTIGATION IN RURAL AREA

The first serological survey of hepatitis A, B and C virus infection w as carried out in Madagascar during 1993 in two rural villages (653 se ra) of the middle-west. This study shows a high frequency of positivit y of hepatitis A virus markers (94.9 %). Hepatitis A is acquired in ea rly childhood. The data show the high frequency of positivity of hepat itis B (HBV) markers: in the two villages 72.5 % and 89.8 % have one m arker, and seroprevalence of HBs antigene is 18.9 % and 30.5 %. Hepati tis B also is acquired in early childhood. The data show that not only hepatitis A and B but also hepatitis C is highly prevalent (2.2 % and 5.8 %). There was an increase in HCV antibody prevalence with age.