Hepatitis B virus infections in apparently healthy urban Nigerians: data from pre-vaccination tests

Background: In spile of the availability of an effective vaccine since I982 against hepatitis B. infection with hepatitis B virus (IIBV). which is 50 to 100 times more infectious than ] IIV. still persists in most parts of the world with Nigeria being described as an endemic /one. We therefore set out to establish the prevalence of this infection and evaluate its relationship with age and gender in urban Nigerians. Methodology: During pre-vaccination tests, blood samples were collected by linger-prick and venepuncture from 1.891 subjects aged < 60 years, between 2008 and 2009 after having obtained informed consent and ethical clearance. Smart Check MBsAg (Globalcmcd. Cape Town. South Africa) and ShantcstTM-HBsAg Elisa (Shanlha Biolcchnics Ltd, Hyderabad, India) were used for initial and confirmatory tests respectively. Results: Of the 1.891 participants. 957 (50.6 %) were males and 934 (49.4%) were females. Overall 114 (6.0%) were positive, of whom 71 (7.4%) were males and 43 (4.6%) females. Those aged 21-30 years had the highest infection rate, and males were more likely to be infected with the vims than females (P > 0 05). Conclusions: Such a high prevalence of a vaccine-preventable infection questions the effectiveness of the Nigerian vaccination strategies. The Nigerian government hepatitis B vaccination programme, which hitherto is limited to the National Childhood Immunisation Programme, should include the adult population.