Childhood seroprevalence of hepatitis a in the United Arab Emirates

Sharar, Ziad Abu; Rajah, Jaishen; Parsons, Helen T.

doi:10.1258/td.2007.053390

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 3 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…These results also suggest the transition pattern of HAV from high to intermediate endemicity, probably for the whole of Tunisia, previously classified among countries with high endemicity [19]. Similar epidemiological changes, associated with improved living conditions, are now being observed in many developing countries from the MENA region, such as Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and Egypt [13,14,[37][38][39][40] as well as others countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America [10-16, 34, 35, 41-48]. Since older patients are usually symptomatic, the higher occurrence of infection during adolescence and adulthood results in an increased number of symptomatic cases and may lead to serious outbreaks.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…The infection occurs more frequently in populations of less economically-developed regions with little education and poor hygiene [6]. Due to improved socio-economic conditions, the epidemiological pattern of hepatitis A infection recently changed in many parts of the world, including Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East [2,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Although this represents a positive indicator for socio-economic development, it leads to possible outbreaks due to the accumulation of seronegative subjects [17,18] and increased morbidity rate as a result of the increased age of primary infection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hepatitis a virus infection in Central-West Tunisia: an age structured model of transmission and vaccination impact

et al. 2020

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Background: The epidemiological pattern of hepatitis A infection has shown dynamic changes in many parts of the world due to improved socioeconomic conditions and the accumulation of seronegative subjects, which leads to possible outbreaks and increased morbidity rate. In Tunisia, the epidemiological status of hepatits A virus is currently unknown. However, over the past years higher numbers of symptomatic hepatitis A virus infection in school attendants and several outbreaks were reported to the Ministry of Health, especially from regions with the lowest socioeconomic levels in the country. The aim of this study was to investigate the current seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies in central-west Tunisia and assess the impact of hepatitis A virus vaccination on hepatitis A epidemiology. Methods: Serum samples from 1379 individuals, aged 5-75 years, were screened for hepatitis A virus antibodies. Adjusted seroprevalence, incidence and force of infection parameters were estimated by a linear age structured SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered) compartmental model. A vaccine model was then constructed to assess the impact on hepatitis A virus epidemiology of 3 scenarios of vaccination strategies: one dose at 12-months of age, one dose at 6-years and one dose at 12-months and another at 6-years of age during 6 years. Results: A rapid increase in anti-hepatitis A virus seroprevalence was noted during infancy and adolescence: 47% of subjects under 10-years-old are infected; the prevalence increases to 77% at 15-years and reaches 97% in subjects aged 30-years. The force of infection is highest between 10 and 30-years of age and the incidence declines with increasing age. The vaccine model showed that the 3-scenarios lead to a significant reduction of the fraction of susceptibles. The two doses scenario gives the best results. Single-dose vaccination at 6-years of age provides more rapid decrease of disease burden in school-aged children, as compared to single-dose vaccination at 12-months, but keeps with a non-negligible fraction of susceptibles among children < 6-years.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis a virus infection in Central-West Tunisia: an age structured model of transmission and vaccination impact

et al. 2020

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“…A study held among healthy Kuwaiti adults (applying for a new job and those recruited for military service), reported 71% of cases being not immune to HAV . Single studies were reported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) , Algeria , Iraq and Morocco in children and young adults. These studies show again the rise in seroprevalence with age leaving younger age groups with higher susceptibility to HAV infection (Table ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis A virus in the Middle East and North Africa region: a new challenge

Melhem

Talhouk

Rachidi

et al. 2014

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

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During the past three decades, a gradual shift in the age of infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) from early childhood to adulthood has been observed. There is a general lack of updated data on HAV burden of disease, incidence and age-specific seroprevalence in countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The aim of this article is to review the published data on anti-HAV seroprevalence, an important tool to monitor infections rates, in countries of the MENA region and associated risk factors including water and socioeconomic data when available. Data on anti-HAV seroprevalence were found for 12 of 25 MENA countries. We show that MENA countries, similar to other areas in the world, have a clear shift in HAV incidence with a decline among young age groups and an increase among adults and older individuals. This would likely be associated with increased morbidity and increased risks of outbreaks among younger age groups. Consequently, the continuous surveillance of hepatitis A cases and the inclusion of hepatitis A vaccine in the expanded immunization programmes are needed in countries of the MENA.

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“…This evolving pattern of endemicity may lead to serious outbreaks and significant disease burden since older patients are usually symptomatic. This epidemiology shift has been noted in the surrounding middle-east countries like Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Emirates, Tunisia, and several other countries [Tufenkeji, 2000;Sacy et al, 2005;Letaief et al, 2005;Almuneef et al, 2006;Sharar et al, 2008;Alkhalidi et al, 2009;Bener et al, 2009;Memish et al, 2010].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Hepatitis A virus age‐specific sero‐prevalence and risk factors among Jordanian children

Hayajneh

Balbeesi

Faouri

2015

Journal of Medical Virology

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Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) has been a significant cause of infections among the children and adolescents of Jordan. Availability of safe vaccines made it necessary to identify the ill-defined temporal immunity trends for HAV and possible age-specific prevalence transitions. This community-based cross sectional study was conducted during the period July-August 2008 on 3,066 recruited subjects from the 12 governorates of Jordan, with pre-defined criteria. Several households were chosen at random within each selected block to enroll the subjects. They were interviewed and data were collected. Their sera were tested for total antibodies against HAV. A multivariate model was then performed to identify the possible risk factors. The HAV sero-prevalence rates among the age categories-second year, 2-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years, 15-19 years, and those above 20 years were 26%, 32%, 44%, 63%, 78%, and 94%, respectively. The model revealed the association of several risk factors for higher HAV sero-prevalence rates: (i) older age groups; (ii) lower maternal education levels; (iii) residing in certain governorates; (iv) using public net drinking water; and (v) avoiding use of public net sewage system. This study provided strong evidence for continuous transition of HAV epidemiology towards intermediate endemicity in Jordan, with more susceptible adolescents and adults. Following the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for countries with intermediate endemicity, large-scale hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for children in Jordan. This is strengthened by the availability of effective and safe HAV vaccines, improving the socio-economic status of the Jordanians, and increasing life expectancy among Jordanians.

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Childhood seroprevalence of hepatitis a in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract: The seroprevalence of hepatitis A in Emirati children less than 12 years was 20.1% (95% CI 16.4-24.6%) in 2004.

Cited by 14 publications

References 3 publications

Hepatitis a virus infection in Central-West Tunisia: an age structured model of transmission and vaccination impact

Hepatitis a virus infection in Central-West Tunisia: an age structured model of transmission and vaccination impact

Hepatitis A virus in the Middle East and North Africa region: a new challenge

Hepatitis A virus age‐specific sero‐prevalence and risk factors among Jordanian children

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