Seroepidemiology of hepatitis B and C in Kaingang Indians in the south of Brazil]

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among Kaingang Indians living on the Mangueirinha reservation in the state of Paraná, Brazil. METHODS: The presence of viral markers was investigated in blood samples from 214 volunteers (81 males, 133 females), using immunoenzymatic techniques. The viral markers studied were: antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HB(c)), antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HB(s)), hepatitis B surface antigen (HB(s)Ag), and antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The participants answered a questionnaire on their sociodemographic characteristics, living conditions, personal habits (such as smoking and consuming alcohol or illicit drugs), and history of disease and of vaccination. RESULTS: The respondents ranged in age from 1 to 90 years; their mean age was 29.85 years. Positivity for anti-HB(s) was 71.02%, and for anti-HB(c) it was 15.42%. None of the individuals was positive for HB(s)Ag. Anti-HCV was detected in only one participant, a 30-year-old woman. CONCLUSIONS: There were low prevalences of HBV and HCV infection in the Kaingang population studied. The high prevalence of anti-HB(s) in younger individuals indicates good immunization coverage. In the adult population, immunity against HBV was probably acquired mainly by contact with the virus.