The seroepidemiology of reovirus, coxsackievirus infections among Panamanian Indian children.

Rates of hepatitis B virus infection varied significantly among Panamanian Indian tribes. Chocó and Mainland Cuna Indians had a greater prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen than Guaymi and Island Cuna Indians. The village water supply appeared to be the major environmental difference that distinguished the tribes from one another. Since contaminated water plays a role in the transmission of enterovirus, an attempt was made to assess relative exposure to contaminated water by determination of the prevalence of antibodies to reovirus and coxsackievirus B in children 10 years old or younger. Infection with coxsackievirus B occurred more frequently in Chocó and Mainland Cuna Indians than in Guaymi or Island Cuna Indians. Although essentially all children tested were exposed to reoviruses, Mainland Cuna Indians had the highest geometric mean titers of antibody, followed by Chocó, Guaymi, and Island Cuna Indians in descending order. This parallel in rates of hepatitis B and enterovirus infection supports the hypothesis that fecal-oral transmission of hepatitis B virus is important in certain populations.