Sero-Epidemiology of Hepatitis B and C Virus in Rural Population of Tehsil Samundri, District Faisalabad, Pakistan

In last few decades, infection of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has appeared as one of the major causes of acute and chronic liver diseases especially in Pakistan. The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in rural population of Tehsil Samundri, District Faisalabad, Pakistan. This study was done on the basis of gender and area. A total of 1380 serum samples (138 each) were collected from both adult males and females of 10 randomly selected villages in different Union councils of Faisalabad. Primary screening was done by using chromatographic strip method. Positive cases for hepatitis B and hepatitis C were analyzed by a sensitive viral detection technique named, ELISA (G.D Germany).The results of the present study showed that 6.15% (n=85) candidates were found reactive with hepatitis B surface antigen and 22.68% (n=313) participants were found positive for anti HCV antibodies. In our study, area wise values of HBsAg and HCV fell between 2.1% - 10.86 and 20.2% - 26.8% respectively. Male with (6.21%) and females with (6.08%) values showed that there was non-significant difference (P>0.05) in HBV prevalence. Results were also non significant on the basis of HCV antibodies found in males (21.95%) and females (23.68%). Different corrective measures over and above awareness programs are the need of people especially belongs to rural areas.