Epidemiology of hepatitis B and C viral infections in Ladakh region

• DOI: 10.1007/s12664-018-0888-z
• Publication Date: 2018-12-12T00:03:05Z
• Authors: Mushtaq Ahmad Khan; Shoukat Ali Zargar; Jaya Upadhyay; Tasleem Arif Lone; Rakesh Aggarwal; Gulnaz Bashir; Mohamad Ali; Stanzen Rabyang; Tashi Namgyal; Zaffar Ali Wani
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Adolescent; India; Hepatitis C Antibodies; Middle Aged; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Core Antigens; Hepatitis C; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Risk Factors; DNA, Viral; Prevalence; Humans; RNA, Viral; Female; Hepatitis B e Antigens; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Biomarkers

Little is known about the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Ladakh, a mountainous region with low population density. We, therefore, determined these and tried to identify risk factors associated with these infections.Randomly selected residents of Ladakh region were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV). A subset of HBsAg-positive persons were tested for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and HBV DNA and those with anti-HCV for HCV RNA. Viral genotype was also determined.Of the 2674 subjects, 141 (5.3%) tested positive for HBsAg, i.e. had current HBV infection and 339 (12.7%) tested positive for either HBsAg and or anti-HBc, i.e. had either current or past infection with HBV. Anti-HCV antibody was detected in 22 (0.8%) subjects. The HBsAg positivity rate was higher in Kargil district (8.3%) than in Leh district (3.3%). No particular risk factor was identified for either infection. Of the 141 and 22 specimens that contained HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively (one had both), 74 and none tested positive for HBV DNA and HCV RNA, respectively. Of the 29 specimens that had sufficient HBV DNA for genotyping, 21, 7, and 1 specimens had HBV genotypes D, C, and A, respectively.The overall prevalence of HBV infection seems to be higher in Ladakh region, especially the Kargil district. The prevalence of anti-HCV was similar to that in other parts of India. ᅟ ᅟ.