Seroprevalence of hepatitis A viral infection in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Introduction: Hepatitis A occurs throughout the world, albeit with different endemicity. The level of endemicity is determined for each country from the annual incidence rate and from the age-specific seroprevalence of anti-HAVt.

Aim: To assess the anti-HAVt seroprevalence in 180 people with no hepatitis A history. The study also aimed at determining the susceptibility of the separate individuals to the disease.

Patients And Methods: Two groups of people with no history of hepatitis A were studied; the study subjects were randomly selected from two quarters of Plovdiv--one with poor hygienic and sanitary conditions and the other with normal ones. The study was performed using Dia Sorin kits and equipment.

Results: Ninety-three subjects were included in Group I; 84 (90.23%) of these were anti-HAVt positive. Group II included 87 subjects of which 39 (44.83%) tested positive. The mean anti-HAVt seroprevalence for the whole sample (n=180) was 68.33%.

Conclusions: The established mean seroprevalence of anti-HAVt is typical for countries with intermediate level of hepatitis A endemicity. The epidemiology of the disease, however, is completely different for each one of the groups. This finding makes it necessary that different preventive approach be used for each one of these groups, specifically related to the individual susceptibility to the disease--something that is not done in everyday practice.