Population-based study of serum hepatitis B virus DNA in Gabon

The prevalence of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was measured in a Gabonese community at high risk for HBV infection. Among 698 subjects 5 to 24 years old, the prevalence of HBsAg was 11.1% vs. 57.9% for anti-HBs and 7.2% for anti-HBc alone. The prevalence of HBeAg among HBsAg-positive subjects was 26.5% vs. 59.5% for anti-HBe. The prevalence of HBV DNA tested by a hybridization spot test was 2.1% in the overall population and 18.7% among HBsAg-positive subjects. HBV DNA was found in 15 of 21 HBeAg-positive subjects but in none of the subjects positive for anti-HBe or negative for both HBeAg and anti-HBe. HBV DNA was not detected in any HBsAg negative subjects. The prevalence of HBV DNA decreased with age. This low prevalence of HBV DNA contrasts with the high level of endemicity in the study population.