Geographic risk factors for viral hepatitis and cytomegalovirus infection among United States Armed Forces blood donors

Transfusion. 1992 Sep;32(7):644-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1992.32792391038.x.

Abstract

In an effort to determine whether residence in a foreign country increases the risk of hepatitis B and C and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in United States (US) Armed Forces blood donors, 5719 volunteer donors at four US Navy blood banks were evaluated. Most participants were repeat donors (68%) and were young (mean age, 25 years), male (88%), and white (80%), black (10%), or Hispanic (7%). Birth outside of the United States was reported by 6 percent of subjects, and 34 percent had lived in a foreign country for more than 3 months. Twenty (0.3%) subjects had hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 100 (1.7%) had antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Thirty-four (0.6%) were repeatably reactive in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV); 11 (0.2%) had anti-HCV in immumoblot assay. Of the 3484 donors tested for anti-CMV, 1117 (32.1%) were positive. When demographic characteristics were controlled for both anti-HBc and anti-CMV seropositivies were independently associated in male blood donors with residence in the Philippines. Geographic factors were not associated with HBsAg and anti-HCV positivity. These findings indicate that the prevalence of serologic markers for viral hepatitis is low in military blood donors, but that residence in the Western Pacific is a risk factor for hepatitis B and CMV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Black People
  • Blood Donors*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / epidemiology*
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Military Personnel*
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People