Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus in a Canadian Inuit community.
To determine the prevalence of hepatitis A in a Canadian Inuit population, serum from 85% of the 850 inhabitants of Baker Lake, Northwest Territories, was tested by radioimmunoassay for antibody to the hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). The overall prevalence of anti-HAV in the community was 71%. Exposur...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
1982
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1862238 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7139503 |
Summary: | To determine the prevalence of hepatitis A in a Canadian Inuit population, serum from 85% of the 850 inhabitants of Baker Lake, Northwest Territories, was tested by radioimmunoassay for antibody to the hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). The overall prevalence of anti-HAV in the community was 71%. Exposure to the virus occurred early in life, such that by the age of 6 years 53% of the children had anti-HAV in their serum. The rate approached 100% by the age of 50 years. These findings document the ubiquitous nature of the hepatitis A virus in this northern Inuit settlement and suggest that immunoprophylaxis be considered for individuals taking short-term employment in such places. |
---|