Abstract
BackgroundHAVNet is an international laboratory network sharing sequences and corresponding metadata on hepatitis A virus in an online database. Aim: We give an overview of the epidemiological and genetic data and assess the usability of the present dataset for geographical annotation, backtracing and outbreak detection. Methods: A descriptive analysis was performed on the timeliness, completeness, epidemiological data and geographic coverage of the dataset. Length and genomic region of the sequences were reviewed as well as the numerical and geographical distribution of the genotypes. The geographical signal in the sequences was assessed based on a short common nt stretch using a 100% identity analysis. Results: The 9,211 reports were heterogeneous for completeness and timeliness, and for length and genomic region of the sequences. Some parts of the world were not represented by the sequences. Geographical differences in prevalence of HAV genotypes described previously could be confirmed with this dataset and for a third (1,075/3,124) of the included sequences, 100% identity of the short common sequence coincided with an identical country of origin. Conclusion: Analysis of a subset of short, shared sequences indicates that a geographical annotation on the level of individual countries is possible with the HAVNet data. If the current incompleteness and heterogeneity of the data can be improved on, HAVNet could become very useful as a worldwide reference set for geographical annotation and for backtracing and outbreak detection.
Highlights
Hepatitis A virus (HAV)belongs to the genus Hepatovirus within the Picornaviridae family.There is only one recognised serotype of Hepatitis A virus (HAV)
The level of endemicity of HAV was estimated for the 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) world regions, with four levels distinguished: (i) high, ≥ 90% of the population have immunity by the age of 10 years; (ii) intermediate, ≥ 50% have immunity by the age of 15 years; (iii) low, ≥ 50% have immunity by the age of 30 years; (iv) very low, < 50% have immunity by the age of years [5,6,7]
The 2,426 reports submitted by HAVNet members were evaluated for epidemiological data
Summary
Hepatitis A virus (HAV)belongs to the genus Hepatovirus within the Picornaviridae family.There is only one recognised serotype of HAV. Based on partial genomic sequences, three human genotypes www.eurosurveillance.org (I to III) have been identified, with distinct geographical distribution [1,2]. The virus causes acute liver disease and is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with a contagious person. Both infection and vaccination lead to lifelong immunity. The level of endemicity of HAV was estimated for the 21 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) world regions, with four levels distinguished: (i) high, ≥ 90% of the population have immunity by the age of 10 years; (ii) intermediate, ≥ 50% have immunity by the age of 15 years; (iii) low, ≥ 50% have immunity by the age of 30 years; (iv) very low, < 50% have immunity by the age of years [5,6,7].
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