International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Seminar Infection Diseases in Arctic

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of the above viruses in First Nations clients admitted to three First Nations alcohol and drug treatment centres in British Columbia.

Study Design: Voluntary participation

Methods: From1992 to 2003, this testing program was conducted predominantly in three of eleven First Nations alcohol and drug treatment centres in British Columbia. Serum specimens from First Nations volunteers were submitted to the Provincial Laboratory and tested for HIV, HTLV 1 and 2, and hepatitis A, B and C.

Results: As of March 31, 2003, 3004 males and females were tested for HIV for an overall prevalence rate of 3.9/1000(95% CI 1.7 to 6.2). For HTLV 1 and 2, 2560 males and females were tested for a combined rate for HTLV-1 of 6.0/1000(95% CI 3.1 to 9.0) and for HTLV-2 15.1/1000(95%CI 10.0-20.0). For hepatitis A, the positivity rate was 67%, 414 of 620 tested. For HB(N=2801) the overall carriage rate was 2.5/1000(95% CI 0.6 to 4.2) and the infection rate was 8.8%. For hepatitis C, 297 of 2415 individuals were positive, a rate of 12/100(95% CI 11.0 to 14.0)

Conclusions: The most remarkable finding has been the year to year consistency in the findings. The rates of HIV infection remain low. HTLV 1 and 2 are stable with HTLV-2 the more common. Hepatitis A rates are high as expected from historically poor sanitation and housing conditions. Hepatitis B has shown antigen changes reflective of immunization, but not infection and carriage rates remain low at about the expected number in the general population. The HB infection rate of 8.8% is higher than expected(about 5% in the general population giving blood donations). Hepatitis C rates are high reflecting the greater infectiousness of this virus when compared to HIV.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)