The seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection in South African Chinese people.

Abstract

The age-specific prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was determined in 949 Chinese people residing in South Africa in 1983-1985. This small community is comprised of original settlers from the mainland China province of Guandong, where hepatitis A virus infection is endemic, and their South African-born descendants. The overall anti-HAV prevalence (by radioimmunoassay) in South African Chinese people was 57.8%, was lowest in children aged 0-9 and 10-19 years (10.0% and 12.8%, respectively), and rose progressively with increasing age to a peak level of 96.6% in the sixth decade of life. A sharp rise in antibody prevalence to 82.9% was observed in the 30-39 year age group, suggesting a high level of childhood exposure at a time of socioeconomic development in South Africa. The age-specific prevalences of anti-HAV among young South African Chinese people are appreciably lower than those of mainland Chinese children, the majority of whom are infected by age 19 or 20 years. Their rates of infection are also much lower than those for Black South African children living under adverse sanitary conditions. This study indicates that a large proportion of South African Chinese children and adolescents are susceptible to HAV infection and should be included in a broader national vaccination programme.