Hepatitis B and C virus infection in Ujung Pandang, Indonesia.

A survey was performed to investigate HBV and HCV infection in Ujung Pandang. The total number of subjects was 406; 196 blood donors, 78 cases of acute hepatitis, 43 of chronic hepatitis, 58 of liver cirrhosis and 31 of hepatocellular carcinoma cases. HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc as HBV markers and anti-HCV (ELISA, Ortho) as an HCV marker were tested. Positive rates of HBsAg and anti HCV among blood donors were 7.1% and 3.1% respectively, and there was no significant difference among age groups. Donors negative for all viral markers accounted for 21.4%. Of acute hepatitis cases, 18 (23.1%) cases were hepatitis A and 8 (10.3%) cases were hepatitis B, one case of which was considered to be double infection. Acute exacerbation cases of HBV carriers were 16 (20.5%), of which 6 cases were positive for HCV antibody. Those diagnosed non-A, non-B hepatitis were 37 (47.4%), of which 3 cases where positive for HCV antibody. Blood samples from all of acute hepatitis cases were obtained within 1 week after onset of the disease, thus, it was not possible to accurately assess prevalence of hepatitis C. Positive rates on HBsAg among chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were 25.4%, 32.8% and 35.5% respectively, while those for HCV antibody were 16.3%, 43.1% and 35.5% respectively. Positive rates of HBsAg and HCV antibody for overall chronic liver diseases were 31.1% and 32.6%, and 14 (10.6%) were positive for both markers.