Prevalence of anti-HAV and anti-HEV antibodies in Konya, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) viruses in the different areas of Konya.


METHODS
Anti-HAV and anti-HEV antibodies were investigated in 210 healthy children randomly selected (100 from rural areas and 110 from urban areas of Konya). None gave a history of previous icterus nor other signs of hepatitis, had received blood transfusion and HAV vaccine, or had been on hemodialysis.


RESULTS
Evidence of HAV infection occurred in children under the age of 6 years. The seroprevalence rate was 67.8% in rural areas and 25.8% in urban areas. This increased rapidly with age and became universal after 11 years of age in both areas. In contrast, HEV infections were not detected until children were 6-11 year olds, and the 5.2% seroprevalence rate in urban areas and 8.5% seroprevalence rate in rural areas in this age group did not significantly increase in older age group. The prevalence of anti-HAV as well as anti-HEV was significantly higher in children with poor socio-economic conditions in both areas.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that HAV infection in rural areas of Konya is widespread and that environmental and socio-economic factors play a major role in its transmission. In contrast, hepatitis E is not a public health problem in Konya.
Atabek
M Emre
ME
Department of Paediatrics, School of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya 38039, Turkey. meatabek@hotmail.com
Fýndýk
Duygu
D
Gulyuz
Abdulgani
A
Erkul
Ibrahim
I
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies