Absence of relationship between Schistosoma japonicum and hepatitis B virus infection in the Dongting lake region, China

In order to determine whether infection with Schistosoma japonicum is related to a higher rate of infection with hepatitis B virus and/or to a higher probability of HBsAg chronic carriage, a population based survey was carried out in China in which HBV markers were studied in 112 subjects with long-lasting S. japonicum infection, and 93 subjects with no S. japonicum infection 37·5% of the cases and 40·9% of controls showed no markers of HBV infection. The prevalence rate of HBsAg was 12·5% in the cases and 12·9% in the controls. For anti-HBc and anti-HBs the figures were 59·8% and 59·8%, and 27·9% and 35·0%, respectively. These data do not support the hypothesis of an interaction between infection with hepatitis B virus and S. japonicum.