Extension of the Epidemiology of Hepatitis B in Circumpolar Regions Through a Comprehensive Serologic Study in the Northwest Territories of Canada

We conducted a seroepidemiologic study of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among 14.198 Inuit (Eskimo), Dene (Indian), and non‐native inhabitants of the Northwest Territories (NWT. total 1982 population 47,053) between April 1983 and March 1985. Participants represented almost all of the NWT communities and included approximately half of the total indigenous population. Sera were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti‐HBs) by radioimmunoassay. A total of 428 persons (3.0%) were positive for HBsAg; their mean age was 41.5 years and 68.7% were >30 years old. Anti‐HBs was detected concomitantly in 153 (35.7%) of these persons and present as a single marker in 2,943 sera (20.7%). Overall prevalence rates for HBsAg were marginally higher among Inuit than Dene (3.9% and 2.9%. respectively; P