Age-specific seroprevalence of hepatitis A in Antananarivo (Madagascar)

Water borne hepatitis a and hepatitis e in malwa region of punjab, India

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis-A virus infection (HAV) and Hepatitis E virus infection (HEV) are faecally contaminated water borne infection of great public interest in developing countries. HAV has a world-wide /dablestribution and affects infant and young children in developing countries and its epidemics are not very common. HEV is restricted to tropical countries and affects older children and young adults and its epidemics are common. Studies suggested that HEV is etiologically responsible for 10%-95% of admitted cases of hepatitis. Exposure rates over a period of time are different in different parts of the country and in different socio-economic groups. Aim of the study 1. To study the prevalence of HAV and HEV in the outbreak of hepatitis in certain areas of Malwa region of Punjab, India. 2. To determine the age specific prevalence rates of HAV and HEV. 3. To determine any change in the epidemiology of these infections.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology in GGMC and Hospital Faridkot, A leading Tertiary care hospital and the major referral centre of malwa region of Punjab,India. Collection and Serological Tests: 1.Venous blood samples of patients of acute hepatitis were taken. 2.Relavent information regarding their Age, Sex Education, Socio-economic status, personal and community hygiene were recorded. All of the sera were screened for IgM Antibody to HEV and HAV using IgM capture ELISA Kit (ASIA-LION Biotechnology for HEV and GENERAL BIOLOGICAL CORPORATION for HAV ) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Result and Conclusion : 1.The outbreak was due to hepatitis A &E virus(HEV predominating resulting from fecal contamination of drinking water). 2.Hepatitis E is more widely prevalent 3.There is a change in the epidemiology of HAV so,more cases are seen in age group of more than 20 years.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus infection among schoolchildren and adolescents in Kaduna, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis A is an infectious viral disease, caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), endemic in many developing countries. A recent review of the global prevalence of HAV infection and susceptibility by the WHO had few data on the seroprevalence of HAV in Nigeria. This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of HAV among schoolchildren and adolescents in Kaduna State and to identify factors associated with seropositivity.

METHODS

Questionnaires were administered to 403 participants aged 2-19 years, and blood samples were collected during April-July 2009 and screened for anti-HAV IgG using an anti-HAV IgG enzyme immunoassay kit. χ(2) and Fisher's exact tests were used to identify variables associated with the presence of anti-HAV IgG.

RESULTS

The mean ± SD age of the study population was 11.7 ± 3.2 years. Of the 403 serum samples, 29 were positive for HAV, giving an overall seroprevalence of 7.2% (95% CI 4.9-10.2%) among the study population. Seropositivity with respect to age ranged from 4.6% (10/218; 95% CI 2.2-8.3%) in the 11-15 years age group to 30% (3/10; 95% CI 6.7-65.3%) in the ≤5 years age group. Anti-HAV seropositivity was associated with sewage disposal methods and parents' educational level (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that the majority of the study population lacked natural immunity (anti-HAV IgG). This low HAV exposure may be attributed to improvements in sanitary conditions and socioeconomic status. Further research involving an older population in different parts of the country is required to determine the current epidemiological pattern of HAV.

High prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G antibody among healthcare facility attendees in Osogbo, Nigeria

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody and associated factors among residents of Osogbo, a town in Nigeria with inadequate environmental sanitation and a shortage of potable water. This is a health facility-based study. Ninety one consenting, asymptomatic attendees of public healthcare facilities in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, were consecutively selected for this study. Plasma samples of the study participants were tested for the presence of anti-HAV IgG using a HAV Ab Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay test kit. Ninety (98.9%) of the participants were seropositive for anti-HAV IgG antibody; group-specific prevalence was also high, but association of participants' variables with the prevalence could not be obtained due to limited sample size and high group-specific prevalence. Since the hepatitis A vaccine is not currently used in Nigeria, the chance is high that the HAV IgG antibody-positive individuals were naturally infected; consequently Osogbo can be described as highly endemic for HAV infection.