Description:
Abstract: We carried out a molecular characteristic-based epidemiological survey of various hepatitis
viruses, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and
GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV), in Myanmar. The study population of 403 subjects
consisted of 213 healthy individuals residing in the city of Yangon, Myanmar, and the surrounding
suburbs and 190 liver disease patients (155 virus-related liver disease patients and 35 nonviral
disease patients). The infection rates of the viruses among the 213 healthy subjects were as follows: 8% for HBV (16 patients),
2% for HCV (4 patients), and 8% for GBV-C/HGV (17 patients). In contrast, for 155 patients with acute hepatitis, chronic
hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma, the infection rates were 30% for HBV (46 patients), 27% for HCV
(41 patients), and 11% for GBV-C/HGV (17 patients). In the nonviral liver disease group of 35 patients with alcoholic liver
disease, fatty liver, liver abscess, and biliary disease, the infection rates were 6% for HBV (2 patients), 20% for HCV
(7 patients), and 26% for GBV-C/HGV (9 patients). The most common viral genotypes were type C of HBV (77%), type 3b
of HCV (67%), and type 2 of GBV-C/HGV (67%). Moreover, testing for HEV among 371 subjects resulted in the detection
of anti-HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) in 117 patients (32%). The age prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was 3% for patients younger
than 20 years and 30% or more for patients 20 years of age or older. Furthermore, a high prevalence of anti-HEV IgG (24%)
was also found in swine living together with humans in Yangon. These results suggest that these hepatitis virus infections are
widespread in Myanmar and have led to a high incidence of acute and chronic liver disease patients in the region.
and Kenji Abe1,*
Source/publisher:
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, April 2001, p. 1536-1539, Vol. 39, No. 4
Date of Publication:
2001-04-00
Date of entry:
2003-06-03
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- Individual Documents
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Language:
English