SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO HEPATITIS A VIRUS IN BLOODDONORS AND PATIENTS IN UNIVERSITY CLINICAL CENTER MARIBOR
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is picornavirus, which is transmitted via the faecal oral route bycontaminated food or water. Lifelong immunity is conferred by infection or vaccination.This study evaluated seroprevalence of hepatitis A (HAV) antibodies in blood donors inUniversity Clinical Center Maribor. In Europe, this infection commonly affects those returning from endemic areas. Because the severity of illness increases with age, hepatitis Avaccine is recommended for persons who travel to the endemic areas. METHODS A total 734 subjects (503 men and 231 women), aged 18–65, were enrolled in the study.Anti-HAV antibodies (IgG) were determined with an automated enzyme immunoassay(Axsym, Abbott Diagnostics) The data from patients tested in 2004–05 were taken fromour DATEC program. The patients were tested with same reagents. RESULTS The overall prevalence of anti HAV antibodies was 33.5 %. Among men prevalence of antiHAV antibodies was 38.4 % and among women prevalence of anti HAV antibodies was22.9 %.The prevalence of antibodies was lower in younger population.The overall prevalence among patients was 57 %, in women 59 % and 56 % in men. CONCLUSIONS Seroprevalence of anti-HAV antibodies declined in last decades in European countries. Inour study 20 % blood donors had antibodies anti-HAV in the group younger than 35 yearsand among patient only 15 % of patients had antibodies in the same group.The use of a vaccine against hepatitis A virus has to be considered for the prevention ofsymptomatic hepatitis, especially in adults at risk for infection, such as those who travel toareas with poor sanitation. Furthermore, they should take into consideration the fact thatthe severity of the disease increases with ageDownloads
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