Prevalence of anti-hepatitis A antibodies, hepatitis B viral markers and anti-hepatitis C antibodies among persons with intellectual disability in institutions in Israel

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A, B and C in persons with intellectual disability in residential care in Israel and especially to determine the need for immunisation against hepatitis A. Four residential care centres were chosen from 53 centres housing 6022 persons. A total of 251 participants was tested and the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus was 91%, of hepatitis B surface antigen was 5.2%, its corresponding anti-HBs was 57% and of anti-hepatitis C virus was 0.8%. It is concluded that active immunisation against hepatitis B should be continued in this population, but only each new person who enters the residential care centres from home should be vaccinated against hepatitis A.