POPULATION-BASED STUDY OF SERUM HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-DNA IN GABON

The prevalence of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was measured in a Gabonese community at high risk for HBV infect ion. Among 698 subjects 5 to 24 years old, the prevalence of HBsAg was 11.1% vs. 57.9% for anti-HBs and 7.2% for anti-HBc alone. The prevale nce of HBeAg among HBsAg-positive subjects was 26.5% vs. 59.5% for ant i-HBe. The prevalence of HBV DNA tested by a hybridization spot test w as 2. 1% in the overall population and 18.7% among HBsAg-positive subj ects. HBV DNA was found in 15 of 21 HBeAg-positive subjects but in non e of the subjects positive for anti-HBe or negative for both HBeAg and anti-HBe. HBV DNA was not detected in any HBsAg negative subjects. Th e prevalence of HBV DNA decreased with age. This low prevalence of HBV DNA contrasts with the high level of endemicity in the study populati on.