Age-Specific Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis A and E Viruses in Pune, India, 1982 and 1992

Abstract

The age-specific seroprevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and antibody to hepatitis E virus (HEV) were studied in persons in Pune, India, where both viruses are endemic. The data showed that HAV infected the majority of persons by age 3 years and virtually 100% by late childhood. In contrast, infection with HEV was rare in children and did not reach peak prevalence (33%-40%) until early adulthood. The reason for the differences in infection rates between HAV and HEV is not known. Age-specific antibody patterns in serum samples obtained 10 years apart show that neither HAV nor HEV has diminished in medical importance in this Indian community.

A study of Hepatitis A and E virus seropositivity profile amongst young healthy adults in India

“…25 Our results are also similar to a cross sectional population based study (85.9%) in the age group of 16e25 years. 26 Seropositivity rates of around 90% were found in a study conducted on voluntary blood donors aged 18e25 years from city and suburbs of Pune 27 and in a population based cross sectional study in Mumbai in age group of 11e30 years. 28 However, seroprevalence findings of our study are in contrast to the findings of 54.1% in age group of 15e24 years among healthy outpatients of a hospital in New Delhi 8 and 62.6% among medical students of New Delhi in age group of 18e22 years.…”

Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A and E viruses among rural populations of the Chaco region, south‐eastern Bolivia

“…If our findings reflect a real change in HAV transmission, we can predict an increase in the number of clinical infections and the occurrence of epidemics of hepatitis A in future years. HEV infection is widely spread in tropical and subtropical countries and outbreaks of hepatitis E have occurred in South-East Asia, the Middle East, Mexico, and Africa (Lok et al 1992;Krawczynski 1993;Arankalle et al 1995). However, few studies have examined the prevalence of HEV infection in South American populations and, until now, there was no evidence of HEV infection in Bolivia.…”

The epidemiology of hepatitis A in Rio de Janeiro: environmental and domestic risk factors

“…In countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis A, the majority of the population has been naturally immunized from an early age, and vaccination is not a high priority. Transmission of the virus will gradually decline as a result of economic growth, bringing improvements in household income, urban services and domestic hygiene [9,10]. The appropriate strategy for the intermediate case is less clear.…”