01746nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260002000042653001200062653001700074653001500091653001600106653001600122653002000138653002100158100001400179700001500193700001600208700001400224245012100238856004800359300001400407490000800421050001500429520101000444022001401454       2011                            d  c08/2011bScielo10aleprosy10aEpidemiology10aPrevalence10aHepatitis C10aHepatitis B10aViral hepatitis10aFull text online1 aRamos JMH1 aSilva ÁMC1 aMartins RMB1 aSouto FJD00aPrevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among leprosy patients in a leprosy-endemic region of central Brazil  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/mioc/v106n5/19.pdf  a632 - 6340 v106  aRAMOS 20113 aLeprosy and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly endemic in some regions of the state of Mato Grosso, in central Brazil. The association of leprosy with HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was assessed using a seroprevalence study and 191 leprosy outpatients were included. Demographic data and the clinical classification of leprosy were recorded. Evidence of previous HBV infection was present in 53 patients (27.7%, 95% confidence interval: 21.9-34.5) and two (1%) were HBsAg positive. Five (2.6%) had antibodies to HCV. The prevalence of previous exposure to HBV was higher than expected for an adult population in central Brazil. In contrast, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was not much higher regarding the age range of participants. HBV markers were associated with a higher number of sex partners and the use of injections without proper sterilisation of the syringes. The number of HBV carriers was small, suggesting that there was no increased likelihood of chronification among these patients.  a0074-0276