Serologic evidence of the circulation of the hepatitis E virus and the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A in an indigenous population in northern Argentina
| Autor: | Hans Nitschko, Carlos Remondegui, Andreas Osterman, Rene Vidaurre, Eduardo Pintado, Lorena Arce, María Guadalupe Vizoso Pinto, Susana Ceballos |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Microbiology (medical)
Veterinary medicine Swine viruses Population Argentina Biology medicine.disease_cause Microbiology Serology 03 medical and health sciences Hepatitis E virus Seroepidemiologic Studies medicine Prevalence Seroprevalence Animals Humans education Indigenous Peoples 0303 health sciences education.field_of_study 030306 microbiology Transmission (medicine) Zoonosis virus diseases Hepatitis A General Medicine medicine.disease Hepatitis E digestive system diseases Child Preschool |
| Zdroj: | Revista Argentina de microbiologia. 53(4) |
| ISSN: | 0325-7541 |
| Popis: | In 2005 a universal vaccination program against hepatitis A was introduced in Argentina. Nevertheless, there are still some unvaccinated marginal population groups. There are no data about the seroprevalence of hepatitis E in the northern region of Argentina mainly because of lack of awareness of this emergent pathogen. We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, and hepatitis E in an indigenous population in northern Argentina. One hundred and twenty six (126) donor serum samples collected near San Salvador de Jujuy were analyzed for anti-HAV IgG and HEV IgG and IgM, alkaline phosphatase and transaminase values. Volunteers were interviewed about their living conditions, animal farming, consumption of tap water or river water, and level of education. Seroprevalence of specific anti-HAV antibodies was high (80.2%, 95% confidence interval, 72.1-86.7%) in children under 5 years of age, indicating early infection in life. Seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies was 5.6% (95% CI: 2.3-11.2%), being slightly higher than the values found in healthy patients from other regions of the country. Although we could not characterize the genotype of the circulating HEV strain, the clear epidemiological difference between seroprevalence of HAV and HEV in a community with poor sanitary conditions suggest that the circulating HEV strains spread through a different transmission route than HAV. Furthermore a significant correlation between anti-HEV IgG and swine farming was found (p0.05), which supports a zoonotic transmission path. We reassessed the epidemiological pattern of HAV infection and reported evidence of HEV infection for the first-time in a community belonging to the Guarani ethnic group, highlighting the need to include hepatitis E testing in routine diagnostics in the region. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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