Prevalence of hepatitis A virus infection in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, by molecular and serological procedures, 1995-2002

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 101; no. 4; pp. 423 - 426
• Main Authors: Fiaccadori, Fabíola Souza, Soares, Célia Maria de Almeida, Borges, Ana Maria Tavares, Cardoso, Divina das Dôres de Paula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01.06.2006; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; anti-HAV-IgM; Brazil; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Feces - virology; Goiânia; Hepatitis A - diagnosis; Hepatitis A - epidemiology; Hepatitis A Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis A virus; Hepatitis A virus - genetics; Hepatitis A virus - immunology; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Infant; Infant, Newborn; PARASITOLOGY; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Prevalence; RNA, Viral - genetics; RNA, Viral - isolation & purification; Seroepidemiologic Studies; TROPICAL MEDICINE; viral RNA; viral RNA - Goiânia; Brazil; Brazil; prevalence; Goiânia; anti-HAV-IgM; viral RNA; hepatitis A virus
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/S0074-02762006000400013

In this study, a total of 865 serum samples were collected between 1995 and 2002 from individuals living in Goiânia, Central Brazil, and clinically suspected of hepatitis. After exclusion of 162 samples which were positive for hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus, 703 samples were tested for anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) IgM antibodies by enzyme immunoassay. In addition, 588 of these samples and 22 fecal samples were analyzed by reverse transcription-nested PCR for HAV RNA detection, with positivity indices of 13.1% (77/588) and 54.5% (12/22), respectively. A similar index of viral RNA detection in anti-HAV-IgM positive or negative samples was observed in serum samples. HAV infection is a public health problem worldwide and this study underscores the extent of HAV circulation in our region.