Viral Hepatitis in a Canadian First Nations Community

Serological markers for hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV) and C (HCV) were documented in 315 inhabitants (27%) of a central Manitoba First Nations community. Serologic evidence of HAV infection (anti-HAV positive) was almost universal (92%) by the age of 20 years. HBV infection (antibody to hepatitis B cor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Main Authors: GY Minuk, M Zhang, SGM Wong, J Uhanova, CN Bernstein, B Martin, MR Dawood, L Vardy, A Giulvi
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2003
Subjects:
Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology
RC799-869
First Nations
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1155/2003/978162
https://doaj.org/article/3eaabad530a84deeb540e170ad0bb56b
Description
Summary:Serological markers for hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV) and C (HCV) were documented in 315 inhabitants (27%) of a central Manitoba First Nations community. Serologic evidence of HAV infection (anti-HAV positive) was almost universal (92%) by the age of 20 years. HBV infection (antibody to hepatitis B core antigen positive) had occurred in only 2.3% of the study population and no chronic carriers were identified. Serological evidence of HCV infection (anti-HCV positive) was documented in 2.2% of the population but ongoing viremia (HCV-RNA positive by polymerase chain reaction) was absent. The results of this study highlight the importance of universal HAV vaccination; likely reflect the efficacy of existing prenatal screening and immunoprophylaxis programs for HBV; and raise the possibility that First Nations peoples have an enhanced ability to spontaneously clear HCV.

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