SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY FOR HEPATITIS-A AND HEPATITIS-B MARKERS IN HEALTH-CARE STUDENTS FROM A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY OF RIO-DE-JANEIRO, BRAZIL

In order to verify the prevalence of hepatitis A and B markers in a group from health care courses of a public University from Rio de Janeiro, a seroepidemiological survey has been carried out. Data analysis was made in students of Nursery, Veterinary, Pharmacy, Nutrition and Medicine Courses. The average age of the group was 21 years old. Background information about social and economical conditions were taken through interviews. Sera were obtained from students by applying a randomized method. Competitive enzyme linked immunoassay was used to detect the presence of anti-HAV IgG. Direct immunoenzymatic method was used for detecting HBsAg. All sera were screened for antiHBs by competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Roche Diagnostic). In 127 sera tested, 54.3% of students were positive for anti-HAV and 1,6% for anti-HBs. There were no carriers for HBsAg. These rates were the lowest encountered in adult Brazilian samples. The highest prevalence of positivity for anti-HAV was found in students of the Nursery Course (75.8%), while the lowest prevalence occurred in students of the Medicine Course (38.0%). Antibodies for HAV was found in 87.50% students with past clinical hepatitis report and in 43.3% students without clinical story of hepatitis. There was no difference among male and female students positive for HAV antibodies. The prevalence of this marker was not influenced by age of students. An index of 79.6% of students who lived in S. Goncalo were positive for anti-HAV, reflecting the environmental conditions of this city. Analysing the socioeconomic status of students of Nursery and Medicine Courses we noted a remarkable difference among them.