Serological markers for evidence of past exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were investigated in a cohort of refugees from Mozambique. Serological markers for past exposure to HBV were detected in 56% of the population and, in addition, 13.2% carried the HBV surface antigen. Anti-HCV antibodies could be confirmed in 3.2% of the population and occurred mostly in the older individuals. Only one anti-HCV antibody positive individual was positive for HBsAg. Immunity to rubellavirus had reached 85% by 11 years of age.Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health problem worldwide, but especially in Africa. Little has been published on the levels of exposure to HBV in populations from Mozambique, while there is no published report on the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Mozambican population. The authors tested samples of blood sera from 428 Mozambican refugees, 3-72 year old Shangaans, settled at refugee camps in the southeastern Transvaal, for markers of past exposure to HBV and HCV. They also investigated the immune status to rubella virus and cytomegalovirus in the population. Serological markers for past exposure to HBV were detected in 56% of the population, while 13.2% also carried the HBV surface antigen. Antibodies to HCV were confirmed in 3.2% of the population, mostly among the older individuals. Only one HCV-seropositive individual was positive for HBV surface antigen. Almost 88% of the children under age five years had been exposed to cytomegalovirus. By age ten years, 96.4% of the sample had been exposed to the virus, with that level remaining constant for all age groups. Rubella virus infection was acquired during childhood, with 85.7% of the population at 15 years of age demonstrating immunity due to past infection.

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Research Methodology Africa south of the Sahara refugee population Migrants methodology developing country Population Dynamics Research Report Developing Countries human Refugees epidemiology middle aged measurement Aged ethnology Portuguese Speaking Africa Humans Adolescent Viral Diseases male Diseases preschool child female Mozambique Child, Preschool Africa immunology prevalence hepatitis Article adult migration Eastern Africa Demographic Factors age distribution Africa, Southern rubella hepatitis B Seroepidemiologic Studies cytomegalic inclusion body disease Cytomegalovirus Infections hepatitis C Child