LOW-PREVALENCE OF ANTI-HCV ANTIBODIES AMONG ITALIAN AIR-FORCE RECRUITS

In 1990, the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was assessed among 4,978 Air Force recruits aged 18-26 years coming fr om all regions of Italy. Positivity to anti-HCV was found by both IIIr d generation EIA and RIBA in 24 (0.48%) study participants. The preval ence was twice as high in Southern Italy and the islands as in Norther n and Central Italy (0.76% vs. 0.35%), a difference which was not stat istically significant. The results of multiple logistic regression sho wed that no sociodemographic variable (region of birth, father's years of education, number of siblings) was associated with anti-HCV positi vity. No anti-HCV-positive individual was positive for HBsAg. Anti-RCV positivity was found in 0.8% (2/236) of the participants who were pos itive for anti-HBc and in 0.5% (22/4742) of those who were anti-HBc ne gative, also a difference which was not statistically significant. Thu s no association was found between HCV and HBV infections. These findi ngs indicate that in Italy, HCV infection is an uncommon event among y oung adult males.