ABSTRACT
Tibetans have been living in Nepal since 1959. Study of the prevalence of viral hepatitis among them showed that they have a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Prevalence of total HBV infection and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among them was 61% and 16% compared to 10.0% and 0.7% respectively among the Nepalese. The predominant HBsAg subtype among the Tibetans was 'ayw'. Perinatal and childhood transmission was found important in the spread of HBV infection among the Tibetans.
Subject(s)
Carrier State/ethnology , Female , Hepatitis B/ethnology , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis , Humans , Male , Nepal/epidemiology , Tibet/ethnologyABSTRACT
Prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Nepal was studied by assaying sera from different population groups for anti-HCV by the second generation enzyme immunoassay method and for HCV RNA by polymerase chain reaction. The anti-HCV was positive in 0.6% of 2,860 healthy adults. HCV infection was responsible for 1.3% of acute viral hepatitis. Only drug addicts (DA) are known to have a very high incidence of the infection. The number of intravenous drug abusers (IDA) in Nepal have increased considerably since 1991 when buprenorphine (tidigesic) was introduced in the local market. About 72% of the drug addicts were found to be IDA and 94% of the IDA were anti-HCV positive. It is concluded that though the prevalence of HCV infection in the community is low, and at present it accounts for only a small number of acute and chronic liver diseases, the presence of a large number of DA in the country with high incidence of HCV infection may result in the emergence of HCV as an important cause of chronic liver disease in Nepal in future.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Nepal/epidemiology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Pregnancy , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Substance-Related Disorders/complicationsABSTRACT
Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection amongst intravenous drug users (IDU) in Nepal is not known. To estimate such prevalence 72 IDU individuals were tested for HBV and HCV markers. About 80% of the drug abusers are both anti-HBc (59/72) and anti-HCV (58/72) sero-positive. However persistent infection with hepatitis B, as indicated by positive HBsAg, was detected in only 5.5% (n = 4). Active hepatitis C infection, as indicated by HCV RNA positivity, was documented in 74% (42/58) of those who were anti-HCV positive. Importance of awareness of this observation among the healthcare workers in the prevention of hepatitis C in the community is stressed.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers , Child , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis B Antibodies/analysis , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology , Hepatitis B virus/genetics , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C Antibodies/analysis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nepal/epidemiology , Prevalence , RNA, Viral/analysis , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complicationsABSTRACT
Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) infection is very rare in Nepal. Anti-HDV antibody was detected in none of the 110 HBsAg sero-positive persons with different profile of HBV infection. It was however detected in only one patient of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma who were sero-negative for HBsAg but had serological evidence of past infection with HBV and HCV.