[Current evaluation of epidemiologic research on the Australia antigen in Senegal].

Prevalence of the antigen Australia has been measured in Senegal in different urban groups an rural communities. Three facts seem to characterize the epidemiology of hepatitis B in the sahel area of Senegal. The high level of the prevalence is for all ages, for both sexes and in all the groups. The rapid appearance of the antigen HB in very young children. The decrease of this prevalence from the age of 8 years. This high level of the prevalence seems much more in connection with the intensity of interpersonal contacts than the activity of the anopheline mosquito. For immunologic reasons, in connection with the age at which the children were infected, with the interference of other multiple seem more able to develop chronic infection.