1. Ethnic and gender differences in the prevalence of anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies among young adults in Israel.
- Author
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Green MS, Cohen D, Slepon R, Robin G, and Wiener M
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Africa, Northern ethnology, Americas ethnology, Asia ethnology, Cytomegalovirus Infections blood, Cytomegalovirus Infections immunology, Educational Status, Europe ethnology, Female, Humans, Incidence, Israel epidemiology, Logistic Models, Male, Military Personnel, Prevalence, Sampling Studies, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Sex Factors, Social Class, Antibodies, Viral blood, Cytomegalovirus immunology, Cytomegalovirus Infections ethnology, Ethnicity, Jews, Population Surveillance
- Abstract
The population of Israel comprises offspring of immigrants from countries of high and low incidence of cytomegalovirus infection. To evaluate possible ethnic differences in the prevalence of antibodies against cytomegalovirus in young adults, blood samples were taken from a random sample of 422 Israel military recruits aged 18-19 years, during 1987. Antibodies against cytomegalovirus were determined by means of ELISA. Subjects originating from North Africa or Asia had higher prevalences than those originating from Western countries (84.0% and 74.0% versus 60.0%, P < 0.001) and the differences persisted after adjustment for gender, education and socioeconomic status. The prevalence of antibodies was significantly lower in men than in women (63.1% versus 76.5%). These findings identify subpopulations who are at increased risk of primary cytomegalovirus infection during adulthood and may be candidates for future anti-cytomegalovirus vaccines.
- Published
- 1993
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