Increase in susceptibility of young adults to hepatitis B infection in the Republic of Yemen.
Susceptibility to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among 987 young adult male blood donors in 2 major Yemeni cities was investigated. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 10.8% (107/987) of donors and 284 (28.8%) had evidence of ongoing or past HBV infection. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) only was detected in 34 (3.4%) donors. Thus, 67.8% (669/987) of donors had no detectable HBV-markers indicating susceptibility to infection. The proportion of HBV-susceptible donors decreased from 70.9% (249/351) in donors aged < 25 years to 69.4% (334/481) in those aged 25-34 years and 55.5% (86/155) in donors aged > 34 years (P = 0.002). The high proportion of susceptible young adults in a community with a high HBsAg carrier rate could be the result of changing epidemiology of hepatitis B in Yemen. Consideration should therefore be given to immunizing young adults as an adjunct to the current expanded infant immunization programme.
Sallam
Talal A
TA
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen.
Cuevas
Luis E
LE
Tong
C Y William
CY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001782:Blood Donors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens