SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS OF HEPATITIS IN THE TROPICS - A STUDY ON VOLUNTEERS OF THE GERMAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (3) , 334-338
Abstract
Sera from 349 volunteers of the German Volunteer Service (GVS) who had lived in tropical or subtropical countries for about 2 yr were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and antibody to hepatitis A antigen (anti-HA) by radioimmunoassay. The findings were compared with those from a control group whose sex, age and occupational status corresponded with the volunteer group. The incidence of HBsAg was equal in both groups (1%). Anti-HA was found in 34% and anti-HBs in 19% of the volunteers but only in 26% and 7%, respectively, of the members of the control group. The greatest occurrence of anti-HA was found among volunteers of the health service (46%) and technical service (35%) and of anti-HBs among the health service (29%), economic service (26%) and agricultural service (21%). Returned volunteers from West Africa showed a higher frequency (anti-HA 38%, anti-HBs 30%) than those from other countries (anti-HA 30%, anti-HBs 17%). The increased frequency of hepatitis corresponded with an increase in the morbidity rate from 25.5/10,000 per yr prior to service to 244/10,000 per yr during the service.

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