title: Hepatitis A antibody prevalence among young adults in Israel--the decline continues.
abstract: This study sought to determine whether the decline in prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies detected in Israel in 1977, 1984, and 1987 has continued. The anti-HAV antibody prevalence of a systematic sample of 578 male and female recruits inducted into the Israel Defence Force in 1996 was 38.4%. The reduction in antibody prevalence from 1977 (64%) was highly significant (P < 0.001). There was a smaller decrease rate in recruits of European, North American, Australian and South African origin than from elsewhere. A 'strategy' that uses active immunization against hepatitis A (inactivated vaccine, instead of gamma globulin) should be considered, particularly in high risk groups such as field units during military service.
authors.affiliation: Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gdalevich
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grotto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mandel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mimouni
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shemer
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ashkenazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines