Published in Vol. IV Studies in Humanities and Natural Sciences “Proceedings of the Second International Congress of Somali Studies”, 1983

Author: Khalif Bile

Abstract

The Faculty of Medicine of the National University of Somalia in collaboration with the Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases of the University of Rome studied HBV circulation among Somali population. The purpose was to elucidate several epidemiological aspects of the HBV spread.

Methods: six different population groups were studied for HBsAG, anti HBsAg, HBeAG and anti-HBeAg. The tests for HBsAg, anti-HEsAG and anti-HBeAg were carried out with available radio- and/or enzyme-immuno assays.

Results: among the normal population HBsAg prevalence was mainly 11.8% with a HBV exposure of 48.6% (anti-HBcAg positivities). In the closed community (Lafoole) HBsAg prevalence was higher (16.8%), such as anti-HBcAg prevalence (75,7%). Of the patients attending a medical center of the National University, 25% were found HBsAg positive and 51% anti-HBsAg positive. The exposure rate was high in both leprosy patients, but HBsAg prevalence was found significantly higher in lepromantus leprosy (16.04%) than in tubercoloid leprosy (4,3%).

Material kindly provided by the Roma 3 University's Somali Archive