title: New epidemiological patterns of hepatitis A and B infections in Germany.
abstract: A sero-prevalence study of antibodies against the hepatitis A and B virus is described along with the prevalence of the surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (HBs1 Ag). Two groups are compared: the first comprising young adults born between 1961 and 1968; the second, an older population aged 50 and above. Results show that only 3.9% of the younger population were found to have antibodies against the hepatitis A virus, in sharp contrast to the older generation in whom the prevalence of antibodies was as high as 40.3%. There is a prevalence of 0.4% of HBs Ag in the younger group, while the rate in the older population is 1.5%. Only 7.1% of the younger group were found to have antibody markers for anti-HBc2 and 3.5% for anti-HBs. In the older group the respective figures are 32.5% and 15.8%.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Medizinische Virologie und Epidemiologie der Viruskrankheiten, Universität Tübingen.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bölke
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flehmig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006507:Hepatovirus; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies