HAV infection in Brazilian men who have sex with men: The importance of surveillance to avoid outbreaks.

Autor: Castro LS; Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil.; Federal University of Mato Grosso, Rondonópolis, Brazil., Rezende GR; Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil., Pires Fernandes FR; Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil.; Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply/National Agricultural Laboratory, MAPA/LANAGRO, Minas Gerais, Brazil., Bandeira LM; Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil., Cesar GA; Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil., do Lago BV; Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil., Gomes Gouvêa MS; Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil., Motta-Castro ARC; Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil.; Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2021 Sep 16; Vol. 16 (9), pp. e0256818. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Sep 16 (Print Publication: 2021).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256818
Abstrakt: Background: Hepatitis A is a fecal-oral infection caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) have been reported as target groups for HAV infection. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors, and circulating strains associated with HAV infection among MSM and TW in Central Brazil.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2011 to September 2013. Serum samples were collected from 425 individuals for anti-HAV antibody testing and HAV molecular characterization. Of them, 149 (35.1%) participants were self-identified as transgender women. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors of HAV seropositivity.
Results: The seroprevalence of HAV exposure was 69.7% (95% Confidence Interval: 65.3-74.0%). Serological evidence of HAV was significantly higher in participants who self-identified as transgender women (83.2%) than MSM (62.3%). Increasing age, non-white race, and lower monthly household income were independently associated with HAV exposure among MSM. Only lower monthly household income was independently associated with HAV exposure among TW. One anti-HAV IgM positive sample, from a transgender woman (0.2%), was detected and classified as subgenotype IA.
Conclusions: High HAV prevalence was observed, markedly among TW. Considering the risky sexual behaviors this population is exposed to, HAV vaccination and prevention programs targeting this population should be considered to prevent outbreaks and the burden of the disease.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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