scholarly journals Male-Dominant Hepatitis A Outbreak Observed among Non-HIV-Infected Persons in the Northern Part of Tokyo, Japan

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 207
Author(s):  
Masayuki Honda ◽  
Hiroyuki Asakura ◽  
Tatsuo Kanda ◽  
Yoshiko Somura ◽  
Tomotaka Ishii ◽  
...  

Recently, we experienced an outbreak of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection between 2018 and 2020. Herein, we describe this male-dominant HAV infection outbreak observed among non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons in the northern part of Tokyo, Japan. Clinical information was collected from patient interviews and from medical record descriptions. In the present study, 21 patients were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 90.4 and 33.3% of patients were males, and men who have sex with men (MSM), respectively. The total bilirubin levels and platelet counts tended to be lower in the MSM group than in the non-MSM group. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels tended to be higher in acute liver failure (ALF) patients than in non-ALF patients. Prolonged cholestasis was observed in one patient (4.8%). We also found that 18 HAV isolates belonged to HAV subgenotype IA/subgroup 13 (S13), which clustered with the HAV isolate (KX151459) that was derived from an outbreak of HAV infection among MSM in Taiwan in 2015. Our results suggest that the application of antivirals against HAV, as well as HAV vaccines, would be useful for the treatment and prevention of severe HAV infection.

2018 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Boucher ◽  
Agnes Meybeck ◽  
Kazali Alidjinou ◽  
Thomas Huleux ◽  
Nathalie Viget ◽  
...  

ObjectivesSince February 2017, an increase of acute hepatitis A (AHA) cases has been notified in North of France. We aimed to report clinical and virological features of 49 cases treated in three hospitals in Lille European Metropolis (LEM).MethodsAll adult patients treated for AHA in 3 LEM hospitals between 20 February and 5 July 2017 were included. Demographic characteristics, exposure risk factors to hepatitis A virus (HAV), AHA manifestations and concomitant sexually transmitted infections (STI) were retrospectively recorded.ResultsForty-nine cases of AHA were diagnosed among which 34 (69%) were hospitalised. Severe AHA occurred in 7 (14%) patients. The median age of cases was 36 years. All cases except 1 were men and 32 (65%) were identified as men having sex with men (MSM). Eleven (23%) patients were HIV-infected, 5 were under HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), 6 had a history of HIV postexposure prophylaxis and 19 had a history of at least one STI. Only three patients had received HAV vaccine. Proportion of patients tested for syphilis, chlamydial and gonococcal infections was 75% (18/24) in those seen by sexual health specialists and 21% (6/29) in those seen by other specialists. At least one concomitant STI was diagnosed in 13 out of 24 tested patients (54%). RT-PCR sequencing was available for 38 cases and confirmed co-circulation of 3 different strains of subgenotype IA (VRD 521 2016: n=24, RIVM-HAV16-090: n=13, V16-25801: n=1), already identified in several European countries.ConclusionsWe are facing an outbreak of AHA among MSM in the North of France with a high rate of hospitalisation. Analysis of cases highlighted missed opportunities of vaccination and lack of concomitant STI screening. Awareness among healthcare providers and MSM should be increased and HAV vaccination promoted.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (09) ◽  
pp. 1065-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bazzardi ◽  
Elena Dore ◽  
Massimo Ciccozzi ◽  
Alessia Lai ◽  
Margherita Pisanu ◽  
...  

Introduction: We describe an outbreak of hepatitis A among men who have sex with men (MSM) which evolved in Sassari (Italy), between January 2017 and December 2018, close to a contextual of large concurrent hepatitis A outbreak reported in Europe and recently, in Italy. Methodology: HAV RNA detection and molecular characterization was performed from serum samples and/or stool by RT - PCR of VP1/2A junction region that ranges from nt. 2,873 to nt. 3,376. The phylogenetic correlation of the circulating hepatitis A strains was assessed by sequencing method according to the HAVNET protocol. Results: 10 Acute Hepatitis A virus (AHA)-positive cases, 8 of which were among men who have sex with men (MSM) were identified. All patients were tested at the time of hospitalization for the presence of anti-HIV antibodies, only two MSM resulted co-infected by HIV. No differences were observed in median age (37 years vs. 41 years, P-value = 0.14), severity or duration of hospitalization between seropositive and HIV-negative men. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted in 2 cases and revealed two distinct sequences of genotype IA linking to clusters recognized in MSM in other European countries in 2016. Conclusion: Our study reported a recent increase of notified hepatitis A cases attributable to cases in the European interconnectedness of MSM in Sassari, a small locality. Hepatitis A vaccination for MSM in Sardinia region is recommended; however, our data emphasize the need of hepatitis A screening and vaccination not only for MSM with occasional partners but also for those in monogamous relationships.


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1228-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davey Smith ◽  
Christina Huynh ◽  
Adam J Moore ◽  
Andrew Frick ◽  
Christy Anderson ◽  
...  

Abstract A high seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (81%) among human immunodeficiency virus–negative high-risk men who have sex with men is likely why this community was largely spared from a recent hepatitis A virus outbreak in San Diego, California.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17
Author(s):  
Masra Lena Siregar ◽  
Rabid Yahya Putradasa ◽  
Arini Nisaul ◽  
Suheir Muzakkir

In a developing country with varying degree of public hygiene and sanitation, prevalent infectious diseases such as hepatitis A (HAV) could add to the burden of infection during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and complicate its gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestation. Here we present a case COVID-19 with acute hepatitis A virus co-infection in a young female with fever, joint pain, non-productive cough, loss of smell, abdominal discomfort, darkened urine, and pale loose stool before admission. The significant finding was slightly icteric sclera, hepatomegaly with tenderness in the epigastrium and right upper quadrant, increase in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, C-reactive protein and, D-dimer. A naso-oropharyngeal swab examination for SARS-CoV-2 infection was positive, and IgM anti-HAV was reactive with a total anti-HAV titer 60 mIU/mL. Subsequently, she was hospitalized for 14 days, successfully recovered; her symptoms resolved and her level of liver enzymes back to normal, and she was discharged for self-isolation at home. RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection came back negative 7 days later. In light of the pandemic, physicians need to raise suspicion of co-infection of COVID-19 with other hepatitis viruses in cases with gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestation. A marked increase in liver enzyme may warrant further testing for hepatitis viruses where such infection should be suspected.


2017 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Jie Lee ◽  
Sam Douthwaite ◽  
Ranjababu Kulasegaram

Hepatitis A is a self-limiting infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), transmitted predominantly by the faecal–oral route including some sexual practices. Outbreaks are commonly reported in the men who have sex with men (population. Previous exposure is thought to provide life-long immunity against subsequent infections with the development of an HAV IgG response. This paper reports a case of acute Hepatitis A infection, despite evidence of a previously positive Hepatitis A IgG results in an HIV-positive individual.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan-Chin Chen ◽  
Po-Hsun Chiang ◽  
Yu-Hsin Liao ◽  
Lin-Ching Huang ◽  
Ying-Jung Hsieh ◽  
...  

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were notified of increasing acute hepatitis A (AHA) in June 2015. Serum and/or stool from AHA patients and sewage samples were tested for hepatitis A virus (HAV). We defined outbreak cases as AHA patients with illness onset after June 2015 and with an HAV sequence less than 0.5% different from that of the TA-15 outbreak strain. We analysed characteristics and food exposures between outbreak and non-outbreak cases between January 2014 (start of enhanced surveillance) and February 2016. From June 2015 to September 2017, there were 1,563 AHA patients with a median age of 31 years (interquartile range (IQR): 26–38); the male-to-female ratio was 8.8 and 585 (37%) had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. TA-15 was detected in 82% (852/1,033) of AHA patients, and 14% (74/540) of sewage samples tested since July 2015. Infection with the TA-15 strain was associated with having HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STI), recent oral-anal sex and men who have sex with men (MSM). The Taiwan CDC implemented an HAV vaccine campaign starting from October 2016 where 62% (15,487/24,879) of people at risk were vaccinated against HAV. We recommend HAV vaccination for at-risk populations and continuous surveillance to monitor control measures.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Samira Chuffi ◽  
Michele S. Gomes-Gouvêa ◽  
Luciana V. B. Casadio ◽  
Ana Catharina S. S. Nastri ◽  
Mario P. Gonzalez ◽  
...  

Outbreaks of hepatitis A may occur in countries of medium and high socioeconomic levels in which the population generally exhibits an increased susceptibility in young adults to this infection if they are not vaccinated against the hepatitis A virus (HAV). In Europe, an outbreak involved approximately 22 European countries with 4475 cases reported from 2016 to 2018; most of them were men who have sex with men (MSM). This outbreak expanded to North and South America, including Brazil, particularly in São Paulo city with 1547 reported cases from 2016 to 2019. In the present study, we characterized the HAV strains involved in the acute hepatitis A cases identified in the reference centers of São Paulo city during this outbreak. A total of 51 cases with positive anti-HAV IgM were included, 80.4% male, 68.6% of them between 20 and 40 years old and 41.7% MSM. HAV RNA was detected in 92% (47/51) of the cases. Subgenotype IA of HAV was identified and most of the strains were closely related to that isolated in outbreaks that occurred in different European countries in 2016. These results showed the epidemiological relation between these outbreaks and reinforce the need to implement vaccination against hepatitis A for the adult population, particularly for a population with a high-risk behavior.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 1125-1128
Author(s):  
Daniela G. Balan ◽  
Dan Piperea Sianu ◽  
Iulia I. Stanescu ◽  
Dorin Ionescu ◽  
Andra Elena Stroescu Balcangiu ◽  
...  

Assessment of changes in total proteins level, serum and saliva IgG and IgA levels, serum IgM level, serum and saliva IgA/IgG ratio. The study was conducted on a group of 40 subjects, divided into 2 lots: the first lot consisting of 20 healthy individuals and the second consisting of 20 patients with hepatitis with hepatitis A virus (HAV). The levels of total proteins, serum and saliva IgG and IgA, serum IgM and serum and saliva IgA/IgG ratio have higher values in patients with hepatitis A, in comparison to healthy subjects, without necessarily exceeding the maximum admitted value. The results are significant from a statistical point of view. Due to the sensitivity and specificity of salivary anti-HAV IgM and IgG in patients with acute hepatitis A, compared with healthy subjects, there is a possibility of using salivary immunological tests instead of serum tests for the diagnosis and epidemiological study of HAV infection.


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