Epidemiological Study on Prevalence of HBsAg in Malarial Patients

Background: Hepatitis B is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in the world. A small number of epidemiological studies, show the role of sucking insects in the transmission of hepatitis B as mechanical vector .In order to determine the prevalence of HBsAg in patients with malaria and to compare with healthy blood donors, this study was conducted. Methods: In this case-control study, 150 malarial patients were observed in Zahedan, Southeast Iran in 2000-2001. All patients were selected randomly from 10 health centers in four areas of Zahedan. Control group (150 blood donors), also were selected randomly using random number table. After recording the demo graphic data, 5 ml of blood was drawn from each case and were evaluated by ELISA method (Sorin biomedi cal kit) for HBsAg. Results: The prevalence of HBsAg was higher in malarial patients than blood donors and there was a signifi-cant difference in the prevalence of HBsAg between two groups (P= 0.049). In addition, there was a signifi-cant difference between the prevalence of HBsAg and sex in malarial patients (P= 0.04). Conclusion: The anopheles mosquito may transmit the virus from person to person as mechanical vector during feeding.