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

Citation
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
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Immunolgy & Infectious Disease",Immunology
Journal title
INFECTION
ISSN journal
03008126 → ACNP
Volume
27
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
212 - 217
Database
ISI
SICI code
0300-8126(199905/06)27:3<212:POAAAH>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
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.