[Viral hepatitis B. Seroepidemiological study in Veneto].

Sera from 3160 subjects without overt liver disease were tested for the presence of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc. This group corresponds to a 4%, sample of the population resident in Padova and the surrounding district, selected according to sex and age distribution (in 5 to 5 year classes). The overall prevalence of HBV infection was 23%. The prevalence of HBsAg+ subjects was 3.2% higher in males than in females (3.8% v.s. 2.7%). Children under 5 years of age showed the maximum HBsAg carrier rate (7.3%), which was found to decrease with advancing age. Prevalence of anti-HBs is similar in both sexes (M 15.8% v.s. F 14.2%) and increases with age. Anti-HBc without HBsAg or anti-HBs was found in 4.6%, higher in males than in females (5.8% v.s. 3.6%). These result stress the importance of anti-HBc detection in HBV seroepidemiological surveys and suggest that HBV transmission within the household (both vertical and horizontal) plays a relevant role in HBV spread in our population.