Ocorrência de vírus de hepatites b e c em portadores de esquistossomose mansônica residentes em área endêmica

Abstract

Schistosomiasis and viral hepatitis are among the major causes of liver disease in tropical climates, suggesting a possible association between the diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of hepatitis viruses B and C in schistosomiasis-carrying patients who live in an endemic area, Alagoas. A coproparasitological inquiry was made at the Municipal Laboratory of Rio Largo, through the technique of Kato-Katz. Afterwards, there was the definition of studying groups characterized by: Group I – A group of positive patients for Schistosoma mansoni and Group II, a control group of negative patients. People included in the groups responded to a questionnaire with sociodemographic data and their blood samples were collected for biochemical dosages (alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotrans-ferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, total bilirubin and fractions, total protein and fractions), prothrombin time, serology for hepatitis B (HBsAg and anti-HBc) and hepatitis C (Anti-HCV). From the 3030 samples examined, 1,702 (61.17%) were negative for helminths and protozoa; 1079 (30.61%) were positive for helminths and 249 (8.22%) positive for Schistosoma mansoni. Groups I and II showed that bathing in the river was the main form of contact with the river, respectively, at 64.8% and 58.2%.The sexual behavior with multiple partners was identified in 5.3% in Group I. For the patients of this group, the mean of parasite load found was 79.1 ± 174.3. Regarding markers for HBV (HBsAg and anti-HBc) it was identified three (1.2%) individuals positive for HBsAg in group I and two (1.2%) in Group II (p> 0.05). For anti-HBc, 42 (17.3%) were positive in Group I and 16 (9.8%) in Group II (p <0.05), with a high risk of contact with viruses B for Group I. When stratified by age and gender, there was no significant risk of contacting with virus B, significant between genera [OR=1,11; IC 95%; (0,57- 2,16)x2]. It was observed a significant risk in relation to ages 0 -18 years [OR = 1.72, 95% CI (1.05 to 2.84) x2] and over 18 [OR = 0.71, 95% CI (0.56 - 0.90) x2]. Furthermore, it was also observed an association between infection by the hepatitis B virus and schistosomiasis with p <0.05 [OR 2.0 (95% CI: 1.0 - 3.72) x2]. Anti HCV was negative in both studying groups. This study indicates that individuals of Group I has a medium age of 24, 92 ± 15, 28 and they more frequently showed a profile of sexual behavior with multiple partners, suggesting that a greater risk of contacting with anti-HBC still exists.