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Studies on antibody to hepatitis A virus in children and adults in London

Untersuchungen über Hepatitis-A-Virus-Antikörper bei Kindern und Erwachsenen in London

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Summary

366 specimens of serum from children and adults without liver disease were screened for antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) by means of radioimmunoassay. 56% were born in London, 26% came to London from various parts of the United Kingdom and the remainder (18%) from various parts of the world. The prevalence of antibody was related to increasing age, ranging from 7% in children under ten years of age to 77% in adults aged 50 years or more. The prevalence of anti-HAV was significantly higher in females, in the lower socio-economic class and in those not indigenous to London. In comparison to other urban populations such as those of the United States and Western Europe, the prevalence of anti-HAV was similar in terms of the overall prevalence and age distribution. By contrast, these findings were entirely different from the countries of Eastern Europe and the Middle East where the overall prevalence was higher but the anti-HAV was equal in all ages. Thus, the findings presented indicate that hepatitis A virus infection is common in London and also shows a clear relationship to advancing age, lower socioeconomic class and the country of origin.

Zusammenfassung

366 Serumproben von Kindern und Erwachsenen ohne Lebererkrankung wurden nach Antikörpern gegen Hepatitis-A-Virus (Anti-HAV) mit Hilfe des Radioimmunassays untersucht. 56% waren in London geboren, 26% kamen aus verschiedenen Teilen des Vereinigten Königreiches nach London und die Übrigen (18%) aus verschiedenen Teilen der Welt. Mit zunehmendem Alter nahm das Vorkommen von Antikörpern zu, von 7% bei Kindern unter zehn Jahren auf 77% bei Erwachsenen vom 50. Lebensjahr an. Das Vorkommen von Anti-HAV war signifikant häufiger bei Frauen, in den niedrigen sozialen Schichten und bei solchen, die nicht in London heimisch waren. Verglichen mit anderen Stadtbevölkerungen wie etwa in den Vereinigten Staaten und Westeuropa war das Vorkommen von Anti-HAV ähnlich bezüglich der allgemeinen Inzidenz und Altersverteilung. Hingegen unterschieden sich diese Ergebnisse vollkommen von denen von Osteuropa und dem Mittleren Osten, wo die allgemeine Inzidenz höher war, jedoch Anti-HAV bei allen Altersklassen gleich häufig gefunden wurde. So sind die vorgestellten Daten ein Hinweis darauf, daß die Hepatitis-A-Virus-Infektion in London verbreitet ist und eine klare Beziehung zu zunehmendem Lebensalter, niedriger sozial-ökonomischer Schicht und dem Ursprungsland aufweist.

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  1. Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, NW3 2QG, London, United Kingdom

    V. Damjanovic,  M. Ross &  W. Brumfitt

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  1. V. Damjanovic
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  2. M. Ross
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Damjanovic, V., Ross, M. & Brumfitt, W. Studies on antibody to hepatitis A virus in children and adults in London. Infection 7, 267–272 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01642145

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