Prevalence of HBV and HCV in young healthy adult males seeking recruitment in Pakistan rangers [Punjab]

ABSTRACT

To find the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among healthy adult males seeking recruitment in Pakistan Rangers [Punjab]. Healthy adult males 18- 25 years old across Pakistan with no previous history of jaundice or any clinical symptoms recruited in Pakistan Rangers [Punjab]. After having cleared the physical efficiency tests, blood samples were collected in gel clot containers and appropriately labeled. HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies were tested by rapid immuno chromatographic method [Excel]. All the positive samples were confirmed by Abbott Murex enzyme immuno assay version III [HBsAg] and Murex enzyme immuno assay version IV [anti HCV]. During the study period 2960 individuals belonging to the province of Punjab were screened for hepatitis B and C virus infections. The study carried out on the recruits from Punjab showed 101 [3.4%] positive for HBsAg and 201 [6.79%] for anti HCV on screening. Ten individuals found positive for HCV on screening left the training and did not give samples for confirmation by the ELISA method. On confirmation by Murex enzyme immuno assay version III and IV [for HBsAg and anti-HCV] of the remaining 96 [3.24%] were positive for HBsAg and 160 [5.4%] for anti HCV. The specificity of immuno chromatographic methods for HBsAg and anti HCV was calculated by the Murex Version III and IV EIAs respectively the gold standard was to found be 99.8% and 98.9% respectively. District wise prevalence of HBsAg varied from 0.64% [Chakwal] to 5.6% [Sargodha] and that of anti-HCV from 1.1% [Jhelum] to 12.6% [Sahiwal]. The prevalence of anti HCV was also found to be high in Sahiwal [12.6%], Okara [11.33%], Faisalabad [10.85] and Jhang [8.9%]. This study reveals the overall prevalence of HBsAg to be 3.24% and that of anti HCV 5.4%