Serological markers for hepatitis B and treponemal infection among HIV carriers from Ethiopia

A group of 52 HIV carriers among immigrants who arrived in Israel from Ethiopia in Operation Solomon, 1991, is described. A control group was randomly chosen from the same population. HBV serology and treponemal antibodies were obtained from both groups. The frequency of HBV markers was similar in both groups (70% among the HIV carriers and 78.8% in the controls). HBsAg was more frequently found among HIV carriers (20%) than in the control group (8.6%). Treponemal antibodies were common among HIV carriers (31%), and infrequent in the controls (3%). These data indicate that HIV infection in this community is linked to treponemal infection and that these carriers handle HBV less efficiently then HIV-negative subjects.