ABSTRACT
AIM: Determine the frequency of antibodies to surface (anti-HBs) and core (anti-HBc) antigens of hepatitis B in population of St. Petersburg of various age for evaluation of protective herd immunity against hepatitis B virus (HB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood sera of 970 individuals (491 males, 479 females) of 10 age groups from 0 to 50 years and older were examined for the presence of anti-HBs and anti-HBc IgG by enzyme immunoassay using commercial diagnostic test-systems. RESULTS: In general anti-HBs at the level of 5 mIU/ml and above were detected in 603 of the examined individuals (62.2%). Anti-HBs at the level of 10 mIU/ml and above were detected in 53.9%. The frequency of anti-HBs in protective titers in males and females in general turned out to be similar (52.6% and 55.2%, respectively). Juxtaposition of age-specific parameters of seroprotection and acute HB morbidity in St. Petersburg revealed an inverse correlation of medium strength (r = - 0.54). CONCLUSION: Results of the study confirm high effectiveness of the program of HB vaccine prophylaxis in St. Petersburg and emphasize the necessity of further implementation of broad measures of population immunization against HB.
