Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, and Treponema pallidum in Mauritius.

A seroepidemiological study on the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Treponema pallidum was conducted in various groups of the population of the state of Mauritus (Islands of Mauritus and Rodrigues). 618 sera were tested. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 86.1% and yielded and age-dependent increase. Serological evidence for acute or chronic HBV infection was found in 3.8%; 4.5% were positive for anti-HBc alone, and in 12.6% past HBV infection was detected. No age- or sex-dependent increase in the prevalence of anti-HBc was found. There were differences in the anti-HBc prevalence among the various groups of population ranging from 5.9 (flight personnel) to 58.3% (prison inmates). Treponemal antibodies were detected in 6.0% and showed a fairly marked age-dependent increase. Our study suggests that vaccination programmes against HAV and HBV would be beneficial for the Mauritian population.