Prevalence of hepatitis B, C, and D virus markers in Yemeni patients with chronic liver disease.

A serological survey for hepatitis B, C, and D markers was carried out in the Yemen Republic. Serum samples from 243 pregnant females, 294 male blood donors, and 108 patients with chronic liver disease were examined. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in 18.5% healthy individuals and 24.1% patients with chronic liver disease (P = 0.03). Evidence of any marker for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was found in 59.8% healthy individuals and 75.9% of patients with chronic liver disease (P = 0.0016). HBeAg was detected in 32.1% of the HBsAg-positive pregnant females, indicating that vertical transmission probably plays a part in forming the pool of HBV carriers. Vaccination against HBV as part of the extended programme of immunisation (EPI) is recommended. Antibodies to hepatitis D were found in only 2 of 100 HBsAg-positive sera. Antibodies to hepatitis C (anti-HCV) were found in 2.1% healthy individuals and 21.5% patients with chronic liver disease (P = 0.0001). These results indicate that hepatitis B is hyperendemic in the Yemen Republic but that hepatitis D is very uncommon. The prevalence of anti-HCV is higher than in Europe and similar to neighbouring Arab countries. Infection with both HBV and HCV are important causes of chronic liver disease in the Yemen Republic.