Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in truck drivers in Brazil, South America
- M A Matos1,
- R M Bringel Martins2,
- D D da Silva França1,
- G C Pessoni1,
- R C Ferreira2,
- M A D Matos1,
- S M Brunini1,
- A L N Junqueira1,
- M A dos Santos Carneiro2,
- S A Teles1
- 1Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- 2Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Dr Sheila Araujo Teles, Rua T. 38, n. 1097, apto 201, S. Bueno, CEP: 74223–040, Goiânia-Goiás, Brazil; Sheila{at}fen.ufg.br
- Accepted 20 June 2008
- Published Online First 24 July 2008
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and viral genotypes in long distance truck drivers in Brazil.
Methods: We interviewed 641 long distance truck drivers to gather data on sociodemographics and risk factors and collected blood samples to test for HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc) by ELISA. HBsAg-positive samples were submitted to HBV DNA detection and genotyped.
Results: We found a global HBV prevalence of 18.9% (95% CI 15.9 to 22.2). Thirty truck drivers (4.7%) had only anti-HBs, suggesting that they had a previous HBV vaccination. More than 20 years in the profession, more than 15 days away from home and a history of sexual transmitted infections were independently and positivity associated with HBV markers. HBV DNA was detected in nine samples in which genotypes A (n = 5), D (n = 2) and F (n = 2) were found.
Conclusions: These findings confirm that truck drivers are at high risk for hepatitis B infection and highlight the importance of having a public health policy that addresses this population and is based on the characteristics of HBV acquisition and dissemination.
Footnotes
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Funding: Research support from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq); Fundação de Apoio a Pesquisa/UFG (FUNAPE/UFG).
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Competing interests: None.
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Ethics approval: This study was approved by the Human and Animal Research Ethics Committee of the Hospital Materno-Infantil, Goiânia, Goiás.
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Contributors: MAM is a co-investigator who contributed to the project’s conceptualisation and was responsible for all fields operations; RMBM is a co-investigator who contributed to the study’s research design, conducted the laboratory analysis and assisted with write up; DDSF is a co-investigator who contributed with fields operations and assisted with data analysis; GCP is a co-investigator who contributed with fields operations and assisted with data analysis; RCF is a co-investigator who conducted laboratory analysis and assisted with the write up; MADM is a co-investigator who conducted laboratory analysis and assisted with data analysis; SMB is co-investigator who contributed with fields operations and assisted with data analysis; ALNJ is co-investigator who contributed with fields operations and write up; MASC is a co-investigator who conducted laboratory analysis and assisted with the write up; SAT is the study principal investigator responsible for all aspects of the study.
