Prevalence of anti-hepatitis A antibodies, hepatitis B viral markers, and anti-hepatitis C antibodies among immigrants from the former USSR who arrived in Israel during 1990-1991
R. Almog et al., Prevalence of anti-hepatitis A antibodies, hepatitis B viral markers, and anti-hepatitis C antibodies among immigrants from the former USSR who arrived in Israel during 1990-1991, INFECTION, 27(3), 1999, pp. 212-217
The goal of this study was to assess the susceptibility of the sub-populati
on of over 500,000 immigrants from the former USSR who came to Israel durin
g 1989-94 to HAV infection, and to provide military physicians with estimat
es of the prevalence of HBV and HCV carriage in this sub-population. 987 ma
les aged 17-49 and 195 females aged 17-19, reporting to military recruitmen
t offices between December 1991 and March 1992 were tested. Anti-HAV, anti-
HBV antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected by usi
ng standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests, and anti-E-ICV antibodies by a
second-generation EIA and confirmed by a third-generation INNO-LIA test. It
was found that in the 17-19-year age-group the prevalence of anti-HAV anti
bodies was 37%, anti-HBV was 12.8%, HBsAg was 3.0% and anti-HCV 1.3%. All m
arkers were higher among males, The prevalence of anti-HAV and anti-HBs ant
ibodies increased with age among males. That of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodi
es increased with age overall. In the multiple logistic regression analysis
, HAV and HBV seropositivity were significantly associated with the mother'
s education and republic of origin. It,vas concluded that the prevalence of
anti-HAV antibodies is similar to that among the local population which sh
ould not be considered at a higher risk of infection during military servic
e. On the other hand, the higher prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodie
s in this sub-population should heighten the awareness of the possibility o
f chronic liver pathology.