HBsAg and aflatoxins in sera of rural (Igbo-Ora) and urban (Ibadan) populations in Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to screen for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and aflatoxins in the sera of 100 non-hospitalized individuals from the rural population of Igbo-Ora and 89 non-hospitalized individuals from the urban population of Ibadan, Nigeria. Hitherto, such a study as this has not been undertaken in this environment. The proportions of hepatitis B surface antigen carriage and scrum 'pathologic* levels of aflatoxins were high (47 - 49%, 8.2 - 9.0% respectively) but varied very little between the two different populations sampled. These findings indicate that determined efforts should be instituted to reduce or eliminate hepatitis B virus infection and aflatoxin contamination of high risk foodstuffs from this environment.