[Hepatitis A virus immune status of Antilles military personnel: incidence after prophylaxis].

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the value of systematic vaccination of recruits from French overseas departments and territories (DOM-TOM) against hepatitis A. Between July 1994 and May 1995 tests to defect anti-HVA antibodies were performed on all new recruits from the French West Indies (Guadeloupe and Martinique). Of the 1685 subjects tested 346 presented type IgG anti-HVA antibodies, i.e. 20.5% overall. Seroprevalence increased from 4% in 18 year-olds to 35% in 25 year-olds and was significantly higher in recruits from Gaudeloupe (26.7%) than from Martinique (15.6%) (p < 0.001). The overall seroprevalence rate was similar to the rate observed in young recruits from mainland France in 1990. These findings indicate that hepatitis A has decreased in the French West Indies in agreement with improvements with sanitary and housing conditions. This study also supports vaccination of recruits from DOM-TOM against hepatitis A after control of their immune status.