Abstract
Hepatitis A is a common viral liver disease and brings serious health and economic problems as its epidemiologic pattern changes over time. National serosurveys from developed countries have indicated a decline in HAV (hepatitis A virus) seroprevalence over time due to the improvement of economic and sanitation levels. The hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunity rate was surveyed throughout an eleven-year period by sex and age group in Aveiro District. In this retrospective study, blood samples from patients of Aveiro District, in ambulatory regime, collected at the Clinical Analysis Laboratory Avelab between 2002 and 2012 were screened for the presence of antibodies against HAV antigen using a chemiluminescence immunoassay. The global immunity (positive total anti-HAV) was 60% and only 0.3% of the patients presented recent infection by HAV (positive IgM anti-HAV). The HAV immunity was age-dependent (p < 0.05), but no significant differences (p > 0.05) between sexes were observed. The immunity was similar throughout the study period (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate that young people (especially under 25 years old) from District of Aveiro are susceptible to HAV infection, constituting a high risk group. The elderly should be also a concern in the future of Hepatitis A infection.
Highlights
Hepatitis A is an acute disease transmitted by fecal-oral route, either by direct contact with an hepatitis A virus (HAV)-infected person or by ingestion of HAV-contaminated food or water
This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis A in Aveiro District, from 2002 to 2012, in order to broaden knowledge on the epidemiology of this disease in Portugal and to assess the risk of outbreaks of HAV
An increase of the percentage of analysis performed until the age of 26–35 years was observed, a decrease was found for patients aged more than 35 years (Figure 1B)
Summary
Hepatitis A is an acute disease transmitted by fecal-oral route, either by direct contact with an HAV-infected person or by ingestion of HAV-contaminated food or water. During the course of the disease there are three phases: incubation, symptomatic infection and convalescence and the HAV excretion occurs from the incubation to early symptomatic phase. The incubation period ranges from 15 to 50 days [1]. The main serological marker, IgM anti-HAV can be detected between five days and 6 months after exposure. Anti-HAV IgG confers lifelong immunity and this antibody can be detectable in the symptomatic phase [2,3]. HAV causes liver disease worldwide, being annually estimated 1.4 million cases of new infections [4]
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