Prevalence of markers of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses in immigrants of operation Solomon, 1991.
Sera of 200 recent Ethiopian immigrants (less than 1 year in Israel) were tested for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. The prevalence of the various markers was: anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) 52%, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) 11.5%. None of the HBs-positive sera tested positive for IgM-anti core. Sixty-eight sera from nonvaccinated subjects were tested for anti-HBs, and 12 of them were anti-HBc negative/anti-HBs positive (the only positive marker was anti-HBs). Four of 23 HBsAg-positive sera were HBcAg positive (17%), and only 1 of 18 HBeAg-negative sera was positive for anti-e antibodies. Antibodies to hepatitis C were positive in 6/200 sera (3%).
Department of Internal Medicine, Central Emek Hospital, Afula, Israel.
E
E
Flatau
O
O
Segol
A
A
Shneour
H
H
Tabenkin
R
R
Raz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens