Open AccessHepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C antibodies among blood donors in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Author(s) -
A Alavian Ghavanini,
Mohammadreza Sabri
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2000.6.5-6.1114
Subject(s) - hbsag , medicine , islamic republic , antibody , virology , prevalence , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis , hepatitis b , immunology , antigen , hepatitis b virus , virus , epidemiology , islam , philosophy , theology
We determined the prevalence rate of hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies [anti-HCV] among 7897 healthy voluntary blood donors in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. Sera were examined for HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies using a second-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positive sera for HBsAg were found in 85 [1.07%] of the individuals and anti-HCV antibodies were found in 47 [0.59%]. We compared our results with those of other studies and conclude that the prevalence rate of HBsAg in our area has decreased in the last 2 decades; from being an area of high prevalence, it is now one with moderate-to-low prevalence. Since there are few reports on the seroepidemiology of hepatitis C in the Islamic Republic of Iran, we could not assess the changes in prevalence of hepatitis C.