Abstract
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) infection rates were estimated in patients attending a venereal disease outpatient clinic: 759 heterosexuals and 154 homosexual-bisexual men. The anti-HBC prevalence was higher in homo-bisexual men (68.8 per 100) than in heterosexuals (41.8 per 100), whereas HBsAg was roughly the same in the two groups (about 6 per 100). The anti-HBc prevalence rate among heterosexuals was higher than that estimated in hospital personnel from the same geographical area. A positive association between anti-HBc prevalence and present or past sexually transmitted diseases (STD) was found among homo-bisexual men. Anti-HBc was also positively associated with herpes simplex type 2 antibodies in both heterosexuals and homo-bisexual men. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that sexual behavior also plays a role in the spread of infection among heterosexuals. Ten of the 46 HBsAg-positive subjects were anti-HDV positive: 6 of the 36 heterosexuals and 4 of the 10 homosexuals. All HDV-positive subjects had present or past STDs. These findings suggest sexual transmission of HDV infection.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alter M.J., Ahtone J., Weisfuse I, Starko K., Vacalis T.D. and Maynard J.E. (1986): Hepatitis B virus transmission between heterosexuals. - JAMA 256: 1307–1310.
Darani M. and Gerber M. (1974): Hepatitis-B antigen in vaginal secretions. - The Lancet 2: 1008.
Dardanoni L., Mele A. and Polizzi M.C. (1988): Epidemiology of hepatitis B in Italy. - Annali Ist. Super. Sanità 24: 235–243.
Fleiss J.L. (1981): The comparison of proportions from several independent samples. In: Statistical methods for rates and proportions. - John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 145–146.
Goh C.L., Rajan V.S., Chan S.H. and Kamarudin A. (1986): Hepatitis B infection in prostitutes. - Inter. J. Epidemiol. 15: 112–115.
Mele A., Franco E., Caprilli F. et al. (1988): Genital herpes infection in outpatients attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Italy (in press).
Miettinen O. (1976): Estimability and estimation in case-referent studies. - Am. J. Epidemiol. 103: 226–235.
Pasquini P., Dentico P., Panà A. and Terzi I. (1985): A note on prevalence of anti-delta antibodies in a sample of 5005 healthy individuals. - Boll. Ist. Sieroter. milan. 64: 326–327.
Pasquini P., Kahn H.A., Pileggi D. et al. (1983): Hepatitis B in two Italian general hospitals. - Boll. Ist. Sieroter. Milan. 62: 308–316.
Rizzetto M. (1983): The delta agent. - Hepatology 3: 729–737.
Schreeder M.T., Thompson S.E., Hadler S.C. et al. (1982): Hepatitis B in homosexual men: prevalence of infection and factors related to trasmission. - J. Inf. Dis.146: 7–15.
Smedile A., Lavarini C., Farci P. et al. (1983): Epidemiologic patterns of infection with the hepatitis B virus-associated delta agent in Italy. - Am. J. Epidemiol. 117: 223–229.
Svennerholm B., Olofsson S., Jeansson S., Vahlne A. and Lyche E. (1984): Herpes simplex virus type-selective enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with Helix pomatia lectin-purified antigens. - J. Clin. Microbiol. 19: 235–239.
Villarejos V.M., Kirsten A., Visona M.S., Gutierrez A.D. and Rodriguez A.A. (1974): Role of saliva, urine and feces in the transmission of type B hepatitis. - N. Engl. J. Med. 291: 1375–1378.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mele, A., Franco, E., Caprilli, F. et al. Hepatitis B and Delta virus infection among heterosexuals, homosexuals and bisexual men. Eur J Epidemiol 4, 488–491 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146404
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146404