[Epidemiological survey of HBsAg carriers in the Uighur and Han populations in the Khotan Area of Xinjiang autonomous region].

Objective: To survey nonsymptomatic HBsAg carriers in the Uighur and Han populations in Khotan Area of Xinjiang Autonomous region.

Method: HBsAg was detected using colloidal gold-labeled double antibody sandwich method.

Results: These investigations included 2 597 subjects consisting of 2 022 Uighur and 575 Han subjects. The total HBsAg carrier rate in the Uighur population was 1.48% (30/2 022), specifically 1.078% in male and 1.59% in female subjects. No significant differences were observed in the age between male and female HBsAg carriers, who had an average age of 35 years. In the Han population, the total HBsAg carrier rate was 6.09% (30/575), and was 5.6% in male and 4.4% in female subjects. The average age of the male carriers was 36.3 years and 27.6 years in the female carriers, which showed significant difference in respect to HBsAg carrier rate. The HBsAg carrier rate showed significant difference between Uighur and Han populations in Khotan Area (P<0.01).

Conclusions: The HBsAg carrier rate in Uighur population in Khotan Area is consistent with that in areas with low HBV infection, whereas the Han population exhibit features similar to those in areas with moderately HBV prevalence in the inland regions. The low HBsAg carrier rate in Uighurs might be attributed to the their customs in diet, eating habit, local living environment and the difference in HLA gene distribution. The authors suppose that such antigens as HLA-Bw41 might be protective against HBV infection.