National prevalence of hepatitis C and B viruses in Mexican blood donors, 2000–2012

Abstract

Introduction

The nationwide epidemiological research of transfusion-transmitted diseases is relevant since the information provided by blood banks makes possible the knowledge of the distribution and seroprevalence of diseases, it also allows the indirect verification of the effectiveness of vaccination programs.

Objective

To determinate the national seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Mexican blood donors in the blood banks registered at the Ministry of Health (SSA) in a 13 year period.

Materials and methods

Analysis of the monthly reports of blood banks (n = 555) sent to the National Center of Blood Transfusion (NCBT) and case detection of donors with HBV and HCV positive results (doubly reactive). Additionally, prevalence estimation for each serological marker was performed for the last year (2012) for each state.

Results

A total of 19,096,294 and 18,617,288 monthly reports with results of serological tests for HBV and HCV were respectively found in a period of 13 years (2000–2012). A decrease of 5375 (prevalence = 0.47) to 2675 (prevalence = 0.15) HBV seropositive cases was observed. The serologic marker for HCV showed an increase of 8170 (prevalence = 0.69) to 10,217 (prevalence = 0.57) seropositive cases. A higher prevalence was identified for both viruses in the adjacent states of the north border of the countries northern border in the latest report (compared to the national average).

Conclusions

A decrease in HBV prevalence to 0.15 in the 13 years period was observed, but the prevalence for HCV marker showed an increase to 0.57, this indicates that HCV remains a potential transfusion transmissible pathogen that needs effective and opportune treatment.