Resuli B, Prifti S, Kraja B, Nurka T, Basho M, Sadiku E. Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Albania. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15(7): 849-852 [PMID: 19230046 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.15.849]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Dr. Bashkim Resuli, Professor, University Clinic of Gastrohepatology, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”, Dibra st, nr 371, Tirana, Albania. resuli@albmail.com
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Brief Articles
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2009; 15(7): 849-852 Published online Feb 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.849
Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Albania
Bashkim Resuli, Skerdi Prifti, Bledar Kraja, Tatjana Nurka, Mimoza Basho, Edita Sadiku
Bashkim Resuli, Skerdi Prifti, Bledar Kraja, University Clinic of Gastrohepatology, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”, Dibra st, nr 371, Tirana, Albania
Tatjana Nurka, Blood Bank Center, QSU Mother Theresa, Dibra st, nr 371, Tirana, Albania
Mimoza Basho, Department of Infection Disease, Public Health Institute, A Moisiu st, nr 85, Tirana, Albania
Edita Sadiku, University Clinic of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”, Dibra st, nr 371, Tirana, Albania
Author contributions: Resuli B contributed to the conception of the study and collected cases from students; He drafted the paper and is the guarantor of the study; Prifti S conceived, designed and conducted the study, and critically revised the paper for important content; He approved the final version of the manuscript; Kraja B collected cases from the schoolchildren and students; He also helped with data analysis and interpretation of the findings; Nurka T collected and analyzed blood samples from blood donors and the military; Basho M analyzed blood samples from schoolchildren and students; Sadiku E collected cases from schoolchildren and students.
Correspondence to: Dr. Bashkim Resuli, Professor, University Clinic of Gastrohepatology, University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”, Dibra st, nr 371, Tirana, Albania. resuli@albmail.com
Telephone: +355-6-82205889
Fax: +355-4-2257107
Received: October 16, 2008 Revised: November 20, 2008 Accepted: November 27, 2008 Published online: February 21, 2009
Abstract
AIM: To assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Albania.
METHODS: Blood samples from 410 unselected schoolboys, 666 students, 500 military personnel, 1286 casual blood donors, 378 voluntary blood donors and 640 pregnant women (total 3880 non-vaccinated residents of rural and metropolitan areas from all over Albania; 2354 (60.7%) male and 1526 (39.3%) female; mean age of 26.3 years) were tested during 2004-2006 for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to hepatitis B virus (anti-HBs) by ELISA.
RESULTS: The HBsAg and anti-HBs prevalence were 9.5% and 28.7%, respectively. The highest HBsAg prevalence was evident in the younger age group, such as in schoolchildren (11.8%) and the military (10.6%). Consequently, the anti-HBs prevalence increased with age, from 21.2% in schoolchildren (mean age: 15.7 years), to 36.3% in pregnant women (mean age: 26.3 years) and 29.7% in voluntary blood donors (mean age: 40.1 years). There were no significant differences between males and females.
CONCLUSION: Despite the estimated two-fold reduction of HBsAg prevalence in the general population from about 18%-19% to 9.5%, Albania remains a highly endemic country (i.e. over 8% of HBsAg prevalence rate).
