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American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 114, No. 3: 355-361
Copyright © 1981 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

research-article

HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTIONS IN MELANESIANS AND POLYNESIANS IN NEW CALEDONIA

T. KUBERSKI1,, G. LEGONIDEC2, I. D. GUST3, M. DIMITRAKAKIS3, D. CANTALOUBE4 and P. ZIMMET5

1Epidemiology and Field Studies Branch, National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, 1440 E Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014
2Institut Pasteur Noumea, New Caledonia
3Virus Laboratory, Fairfield Hospital for Communicable Diseases Fairfield, Victoria, Australia
4Service de la Santé Noumea, New Caledonia
5Royal Southern Memorial Hospital, Department of Metabolic Medicine and Epidemiology Southern Memorial Hospital, Victoria, Australia

Send reprint requests to Dr. Kuberski at this address. Epidemiology and Field Studies Branch, National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases, 1440 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014

Hepatitis B virus infections were examined in two ethnically different Pacific island groups, 532 Melanesians and 401 Polynesians, living under similar environmental circumstances on the island of Ouvea, New Caledonia. High hepatitis B virus infection rates (Melanesians, 89.3%, and Polynesians, 86.3%) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier rates (Melanesians, 11.7%, and Polynesians, 8.0%) were observed in both groups. The carrier rate for HBsAg was generally higher in men, particularly Melanesian men. Comparing the Ouvea Melanesians and Polynesians to 170 Melanesians living on the main island of New Caledonia, significantly lower rates for hepatitis B virus infection (47.1%) and HBsAg carrier state (0.6%) were found. The findings suggest that environmental factors may be more important than genetic factors in hepatitis B infections in these populations. Tattooing did not appear to influence the presence of hepatitis B virus infection.

antibodies; geography; hepatitis B virus; serology; tattoing


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