HBV epidemiology in Latin America

In Latin America, despite the paucity of population studies, hepatitis B is considered endemic. The western Amazonia is a highly endemic area where hepatitis D is also prevalent. In this area, outbreaks of fulminant hepatitis due to HBV and HDV axe frequently reported. Non-safe sexual activity seems to be the most important transmission route, but intrafamilial transmission, during early childhood, is extremely significant in Amazonia. The HBV genotype distribution is heterogeneous with a high prevalence of genotype F in the Amazonian region and genotype A in all other areas. In the region where Asian and Italian immigration occurred, genotypes B, C and D axe also described. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.