EPIDEMIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS INFECTIONS IN GREECE1

Abstract

The major epidemiologic characteristics of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections in Greece were studied in a sample of 877 Air Force recruits, 19–25 years old coming from every geographic region of Greece. Antibodies to HAV (anti-HAV) were detected by solid phase radioimmunoassay in 83.8% of the recruits. Antibody frequency varied significantly in the various geographic regions of Greece and was inversely related to the size of the community. It was further shown that the prevalence of HAV infection was highly related to the recruit‘s social class and years of education as well as number of siblings and number of persons per room. These findings in accordance with previous reported data show that hepatitis A is hyperendemic and should be regarded as a childhood infection in Greece. Prevailing socioeconomic, hygienic living and housing conditions should be considered as the main epidemiologic determinants of HAV infections.