title: A stochastic model for analyzing prevalence surveys of hepatitis A antibody.
abstract: Epidemiologic surveys of the age-specific prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) provide information on the spread of infection such as the infection rate and age-dependent characteristics. However, the data on prevalence are confounded with the mortality and diminished immunity of surveyed individuals. Through modeling, the age-specific prevalence of an individual can be separated from these confounding factors. A Markov chain is used to model the process of acquisition of anti-HAV by an individual and to derive the age-specific prevalence. Data from Frösner et al. [Am. J. Epidemiol. 110:63-69 (1979)] are used for illustration and estimation of parameters. The model offers an explanation of the well-known phenomenon of a decline in prevalence in older age. In addition to hepatitis, the framework of the model can be adapted to analyzing seroepidemiologic surveys of other diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park 20742.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013269:Stochastic Processes
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral