HEPATITIS-B, HEPATITIS-C, HEPATITIS-D, AND HEPATITIS-E MARKERS IN RURAL EQUATORIAL AFRICAN VILLAGES (GABON)

Serologic markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), including HBV DNA, and o f hepatitis delta virus were measured in three villages in Gabon. Of 3 03 subjects studied, 19% were carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); 8.5% of these had anti-delta antibodies, No difference among the three villages was observed. All HBV DNA carriers were children le ss than 11 years of age. In the 2-9-year-old group, 71% of the HBsAg-p ositive children tested were HBV DNA carriers. These results indicate that HBV prevalence is high in Gabon and emphasize the importance of h orizontal transmission of HBV in Africa. Antibodies to hepatitis C vir us, assessed in one of the three villages, were found with a prevalenc e of 35% with a second generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E LISA) and 24% with a third generation ELISA. None of 35 subjects teste d for antibodies to hepatitis E virus was positive.