Hemodialysis patients are at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. A survey was conducted in

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been a significant problem for hemodialysis patients. However this infection has declined in regions where the screening for anti-HCV in blood banks and hemodialysis-specific infection controlmeasures were adopted. In Brazil, these measures were implemented in 1993 and 1996, respectively. In addition, all studied units have implemented isolation of anti-HCV positive patients since 2000. In order to evaluate the impact of these policies in the HCV infection prevalence, accumulated incidence, and risk factors in hemodialysis population of Goiânia City, Central Brazil, all patients were interviewed and serum samples tested for HCV antibodies in 1993HCV antibodies in , 1996HCV antibodies in , 1999HCV antibodies in , and 2002. In the first six years (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999), anti-HCV prevalence increased from 28.2 to 37.2%, however a strong decrease in positivity was detected between 1999 and 2002 (37.8 vs 16.5%) when the measures were fully implemented. Also, a decrease of the anti-HCV accumulated incidence in cohorts of susceptible individuals during 1993-2002 (71%), 1996-2002 (34.2%), and 1999-2002 (11.7%) Key words: hepatitis C -hemodialysis -prevalence -incidence -risk factors -Central Brazil Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects more than 170 million of people worldwide. This virus is a common cause of chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, both of which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality (Lauer & Walker 2001, Alberti & Benvegnu 2003, Poynard et al. 2003.HCV is efficiently transmitted by parenteral route. Therefore hemodialysis patients are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis C, because of the frequent past blood transfusion and regular vascular access (CDC 2001). In addition, HCV infected hemodialysis patients have an increased risk of death when compared with those not infected (Stehamn-Breen et al. 1998, Fabrizi et al. 2002.The prevalence of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients is usually greater than that found in general population (Fabrizi et al. 2002). On the other way, a high variability in the HCV positivity rates has been found in individuals undergoing hemodialysis, ranging from 3.4% in patients of Netherlands (Schneeberger et al. 2000), to more than 70% in Eastern Europe (Vladutiu et al. 2000). In Brazil, prevalence rates varying from 13% (Souza et al. 2003) to 64.7% (Vanderborght et al. 1995) have been reported. The screening of anti-HCV in blood banks and the adoption of hemodialysis-specific infection control measures have been implicated in the declining of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients (Djordjevic et al. 2000, Almoroth et al. 2002, Valtuille et al. 2002. In our country, the first measure has been implemented since November 1993, and the latter in the end of 1996 in compliance with news Health Ministry Standards for Renal units which are in accordance with most of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC 2001) recommendations. In this study, HCV infection prevalence, accu...

In order to evaluate the seroepidemiology and response to Butang® vaccine in adolescents from low income families in Central Brazil, blood samples of 664 adolescents were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) markers, and multiple logistical regression analysis was carried out to determine variables associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection markers. Further, three 20 µg Butang® vaccine doses were offered to all susceptible individuals (n = 304). Among those who accepted them (n = 182)Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been considered a global health problem. This has been cause of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer of the liver (Mast et al. 2005). It is estimated 2 billion people have been infected and that more than 350 million of individuals are chronic carriers of HBV worldwide (Hou et al. 2005). Also, this infection has been answerable for 520,000 deaths each year (EASL 2003).In high endemic regions, hepatitis B is transmitted mainly by vertical or horizontal mode. In contrast, in low and intermediate endemic regions, it is disseminated generally by sexual and parenteral via (Hou et al. 2005, Mast et al. 2005 whereas an increase of HBV positivity throughout the adolescence and early adulthood was showed (Dominguez et al. 2000, Cisneros-Castolo et al. 2001, Gaze et al. 2002. During this period of life individuals are more susceptible to risk behaviors such as illicit drug use, alcohol abuse, multiple partners, and sexually transmitted diseases (Lawrence & Goldstein 1995, Miranda et al. 2005). Also, a higher risk of hepatitis B has been observed in economically disadvantaged adolescents (Porto et al. 1994, Silveira et al. 1999, Clemens et al. 2000, Gandolfo et al. 2003. Hepatitis B vaccination is the most effective strategy for HBV prevention. In Brazil, it has been available in private clinics since the beginning of 1990s, but due the elevated cost of doses only individuals with better socioeconomic conditions could be vaccinated. In 1999, in compliance with WHO recommendations (WHO 2003) the Brazilian Public Health Authorities implemented the universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns and infants, and more recently it was extended for adolescents.Actually several countries manufacture the hepatitis B vaccines. This should play a role in the cost of doses and to improve the worldwide hepatitis B vaccine coverage, mainly in developing regions (Vryheid et al. 2000). Butang® is a Brazilian hepatitis B recombinant vaccine (Ioshimoto et al. 1999). It has been provided free of charge by health public services since 2001. However, there is still few informations about the immunogenicity of this vaccine in different groups (Baldy et al. 2004, Martins et al. 2004.In order to assist decisions on strategies for hepatitis B vaccination in a target group of the Brazilian immunization program, an investigation was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for HBV infection, the adherence to and the...

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Avaliou-se a taxa de desaparecimento e a digestibilidade da silagem de restos culturais do abacaxizeiro (SRA) em substituição à silagem de cana-de-açúcar aditivada com 0,5% de ureia (SC) na alimentação de ovinos. Foram utilizados cinco cordeiros, raça Santa Inês, alocados em delineamento experimental quadrado latino 5X5, alimentados com dietas contendo 13,5% de PB e 63,0% de NDT. Foram avaliadas cinco dietas definidas da seguinte forma: 100% de SRA: 0% SC (100A); 75% SRA: 25% SC (75A); 50% SRA: 50% SC (50A); 25% SRA: 75% SC (25A) e 0% SRA: 100% SC(0A). Não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos para consumo de matéria-seca, digestibilidade da matéria seca (DMS) e para a digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro (DFDN) com a adição de SRA. Houve aumento (P<0,05) da taxa de desaparecimento de MS (Kd,%/h) do rúmen com a adição de SRA e o pH ruminal diminuiu (P<0,05) de forma linear com a adição de SRA. Em função da taxa de desaparecimento de MS do rúmen, digestibilidade e consumo de MS pode-se utilizar a silagem de restos culturais do abacaxizeiro (SRA) em substituição à silagem de cana-de-açúcar+0,5% ureia (SC) na alimentação de ovinos.