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Sex Transm Infect doi:10.1136/sti.2008.030205

Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in truck drivers in Brazil, South America

  1. Marcos A. Matos
  1. Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
    1. Regina M.M. Bringel
    1. Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
      1. Divânia D.S. França
      1. Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
        1. Grécia C. Pessoni
        1. Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
          1. Renata C. Ferreira
          1. Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
            1. Marcia A.D. Matos
            1. Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
              1. Ana Luiza N. Junqueira
              1. Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
                1. Sandra Brunini
                1. Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
                  1. Megmar A. S. Carneiro
                  1. Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
                    1. Sheila Araujo Teles (sheila{at}fen.ufg.br)
                    1. Faculdade de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil
                      • 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 socio-demographics 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: 15.9-22.2). Thirty truck drivers (4.7%) had only anti-HBs, suggesting that they had a previous HBV vaccination. Length of profession longer than 20 years, time away from home lasting more than 15 days and a history of sexual transmitted infections (STD) 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.

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