title: Prevalence of infectious diseases among Mongolian blood donors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study estimates the prevalence of screened infections: human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) virus, hepatitis C (HCV) virus, brucellosis, and syphilis among Mongolian blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report is based on routine data collected from simple questionnaires completed by a sample of consecutive donors visiting the Blood Center between August 2004 and February 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seropositivity rates were as follows: HIV 0%, HBsAg 8.1% (n=185), anti-HCV 8.7% (n=195), brucellosis 3.3% (n=75), and syphilis 2% (n=44). HBsAg seropositivity was concentrated among young donors less than 20 years of age (P<0.01) while anti-HCV seropositivity tended to increase significantly with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HBV and HCV among Mongolian donors is very high and appears to be differentially distributed by age. The data suggests further studies are warranted to identify key risk factors for blood-borne infections and to develop population-specific interventions to interrupt transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA. bxt07@health.state.ny.us
authors.forename: Boldtsetseg
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tserenpuntsag
authors.forename: Lamjav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ouynbileg
authors.forename: Kenrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Louise-Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: McNutt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult