Hepatitis C prevalence in persons with mental retardation

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was identified in 1989 and has since been found in most of the world. Due to the lack of information about the prevalence of HCV in institutions for the mentally retarded it was decided to conduct a study in this population in Israel. METHODS: The Division for the Mentally Retarded in Israel provides service to 6,022 persons in 53 institutions. Four institutions in the central part of the country were selected for this pilot study. In connection with routine blood examinations a blood specimen was drawn to detect serologic markers for hepatitis C by microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA). RESULTS: Of the 251 subjects tested (56% male), 10% had mild, 30% moderate, 29% severe, and 31% profound mental retardation. 4% were aged 11-18 years, 61% aged 19-45, 30% 46-60, and 5% over 61 years. In the four institutions, two subjects (0.8%) with antibodies to HCV were found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV in institutions for the mentally retarded (0.8%) does not differ appreciably from the general population in Israel (0.5%). This study, together with studies from the United States, Canada, England, Spain, Denmark, and Italy, appears to indicate that HCV is not a major public health problem in institutions for the mentally retarded.