HBV markers and HBV detection among different original communities from Northern Argentina

BLEJER, C; DELFINO, C; EIRIN, ME; BERINI, C; MALAN, R; PUCA, A; KRUPP, R; PEDROZO, W; CASTILLO, A; GENTILE, E; CUESTAS, ML; MINASSIAN, M; SALAMONE, H; OUBIÑA, J; MATHET, V & BIGLIONE, M

Congreso; The 14th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID).; 2010

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly endemic among several original communities of South America. Prevalence of serological HBV markers ranges from 25 to 83% among Amazonian Amerindians in Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela. This is the first time HBV infection is detected among different communities of Argentina. Objective: To determine the serological and molecular prevalence of HBV infection in three different communities of North Argentina. Materials and Methods: A total of 492 individuals, including 105 Kollas from Jujuy (Northwest), 90 Wichis from Formosa (Nothcenter) and 297 Mbyá-Guaranies from Misiones (Northeast) were studied. An informed consent was signed by all participants. Serological markers for HBsAg (Abbott-Murex) and anti-HBc (Biomerieux) were analyzed by ELISAs. All samples with at least one positive serologic marker were then submitted to DNA extraction using alkaline lysis. The S and Pre C/C genomic regions of HBV were amplified by PCR in independent reactions (PCR S and PCR pre-C/C). Results: A total of 68 (13.57%) samples were positive for at least one of the serological markers. The serological prevalence in the different communities were 5.7% (6 anti-HBcore/105) for Kollas, 4.4% (4 anti-HBcore /90) for Wichis and 19.52% [49 anti-HBcore (17%), 7 HBsAg and 2 anti-HBcore and HBsAg /297] for Mbyá-Guaranies. The serological prevalence among Kollas and Wichis was significantly different in comparison with that of the Mbyá-Guaranies (p=0.0015 and p=0.0011). HBV DNA was detected in 9 Mbyá-Guarani samples with a molecular prevalence of 3.03% (9/297) being 7 positive by PCR S (one sample with HBsAg as the only marker and six samples with anti-HBc as the only marker) and 2 by PCR pre-C/C (with anti-HBc as the only marker). Conclusions: This study reports the presence of HBV in original communities of Argentina. The anti-HBc prevalence among our communities was significantly lower in comparison with that of Amazonian Amerindians from Bolivia (74%), Brazil (78.6%), Peru (59.7%) and Venezuela (77%). Interestingly, this prevalence among Mbyá-Guaranies (17%) is similar to the one in Kaingang community (14.52%) in Southern Brazil reported in 2006. Our data highlights the importance of implementing new public health policies that includes vaccination in these communities.