Antibody to hepatitis A virus in healthy Nigerians

Two hundred and fifty Nigerians (175 male and 75 female), whose ages ranged from 5 to 70 years, were surveyed for the presence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). The prevalence was determined to be 82 percent. The rates were highest in blood donors (90 percent) and hospital workers (91.4 percent) and lowest in children under the age of 10 (25 percent). The prevalence rates were not related to socioeconomic groups, previous exposure, jaundice, or sex. The study confirms that HAV infection is endemic in Nigeria and that most infections are subclinical and occur early in life. Acute hepatitis in a Nigerian adult may therefore not be due to HAV.