title: Antibody against hepatitis A in Saudi Arabians and in expatriates from various parts of the world working in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: The age-specific rate of exposure to hepatitis A virus (HAV) was studied in 1015 native Saudi Arabians (504 males, 511 females) from the Riyadh area. The relatively high prevalence of antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) (38.6%) in children between 1 and 4 years of age indicates that infection is acquired early in life in the Saudi Arabian population. The prevalence of anti-HAV was found to increase steadily so that by the age of 30 years 91.0% of Saudi Arabians have anti-HAV. The prevalence in adult Saudi Arabians was compared with that in expatriates from various parts of the world working in Saudi Arabia. It was lowest among Swedish (10.7-12.3%) and highest among Yemeni (94.5%) blood donors while British blood donors were intermediate same among Saudi Arabian, Yemeni, Egyptian and Filipino blood donors (91.0-94.5%). All the donors tested were of the same age group (20-35 years).
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013548:Sweden / Q000208:ethnology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000208:ethnology; D015006:Yemen / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic