The Latest Seroepidemiological Pattern of Hepatitis a in Japan

Kiyohara, Tomoko; Satoh, Tomoko; Yamamoto, Hiroshi; Totsuka, Atsuko; Moritsugu, Yasuo

doi:10.7883/yoken1952.50.123

Cited by 23 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The age-speci®c prevalence pattern of HAV observed in this cross-sectional study is similar to that reported previously in the United States, Australia, Japan, and northern and western European countries [Bottiger et al, 1997;Kiyohara et al, 1997;Ferson et al, 1998;CDC, 1999]. Because of the presence of subclinical cases and the need for con®rmatory testing by serology, under diagnosis is likely.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Change in hepatitis A virus seroepidemiology in southern Taiwan: a large percentage of the population lack protective antibody

Wang

Liu

Huang

et al. 2001

Journal of Medical Virology

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Hepatitis A, the predominant reported etiologic form of viral hepatitis in Taiwan, continues to be a disease primarily of children and young adults. A seroepidemiologic study was performed to assess the seroprevalence of hepatitis A (HAV) antibodies in the southern Taiwan general population in 1998 and is compared with results of a similar study in 1992. A total of 948 subjects (477 male and 471 female) with ages ranging from 0.3 to 63 years were stratified into 14 age-specific groups. The presence of anti-HAV antibodies was detected using a commercially available radioimmunoassay. Fifteen percent of the subjects were positive for anti-HAV antibodies, which is lower than that in 1992 (P < 0.001). Seroprevalences were 14.1% for males and 22.6% for females (P = 0.006). The pattern of anti-HAV seroprevalence was distinguishable from that found in 1992; minimum seroconversion occurred at ages ranging from 1 to 30 years. Prevalence of seropositive subjects decreased markedly for the < 1, 13-15, 16-19, 20-24, 25-29, and 30-39 year age groups in comparing 1998 with 1992. The current study demonstrates a continuing decline in the prevalence of HAV among children, adolescents, and young adults. The findings can be ascribed to the improvement of socioeconomic status and modernization of environmental sanitation. As a consequence of this changing trend of endemicity and the resulting lack hepatitis A antibodies among the general population in Taiwan, the risk of sudden major outbreaks is increased because of increasing international travel and immigration, particularly during and after natural disasters. HAV vaccination will be important for the prevention and control of HAV outbreaks in the community.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Change in hepatitis A virus seroepidemiology in southern Taiwan: a large percentage of the population lack protective antibody

Wang

Liu

Huang

et al. 2001

Journal of Medical Virology

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“…In Japan, there was rapid improvement in sanitary conditions and standards of living after World War II, and clean public water systems were introduced in the 1950s. Surveys from across the country reported that the age at which more than half of the population had HAV antibodies was above 30 years in the 1970s [Moritsugu et al, 1978;Ichida et al, 1981] and has been increasing [Kiyohara et al, 1997;Furusyo et al, 1998]. The present study revealed that the age at which more than half of the hemodialysis patients and healthy individuals (medical staff members) who were positive for anti-HAV (total), was both above 60 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 44%

Distinct changing profiles of hepatitis A and E virus infection among patients with acute hepatitis, patients on maintenance hemodialysis and healthy individuals in Japan

et al. 2006

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To compare the epidemiologic profiles of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Japan, the prevalence of clinical or subclinical HAV and HEV infections was investigated serologically and molecularly among 128 consecutive patients (age, mean +/- standard deviation, 37.5 +/- 14.7 years) who contracted acute hepatitis between 1989 and 2005 in a city hospital, and among 416 hemodialysis patients (60.1 +/- 12.6 years) and 266 medical staff members (34.6 +/- 11.4 years) at the same hospital, using stored periodic serum samples collected since the start of hemodialysis or employment, respectively. Between 1989 and 1995, among 93 patients with acute hepatitis, 51 (54.8%) were diagnosed with hepatitis A and only one patient with hepatitis E. Between 1996 and 2005, however, among 35 patients, only 3 (8.6%) were diagnosed with hepatitis A and 2 (5.7%) with hepatitis E. Although subclinical HEV infection was recognized in four hemodialysis patients (one each in 1979, 1980, 1988, and 2003) and two medical staff members (1978 and 2003) in previous studies, none of the 191 hemodialysis patients who had been negative for anti-HAV at the start of hemodialysis contracted HAV infection during the observation period of 7.6 +/- 6.4 years. Only one (0.4%) of the 246 medical staff members who had been negative for anti-HAV at the start of employment acquired hepatitis A during the observation period of 7.9 +/- 8.0 years: none had subclinical HAV infection. Clinical or subclinical HEV infection has occurred rarely during the last three decades, while HAV infection has markedly decreased at least since 1996.

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“…Total anti-HAV antibody was determined for all specimens using an inhibition enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as described (12). Briefly, purified inactivated HAV (KRM003 strain, genotype IIIB) was bound to microtiter plates (Nunc, F96 CERT.MAXISOAP, Denmark) coated with anti-HAV rabbit serum (HAV-plates).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shifting Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis A in Japan, 1973–2003

Kiyohara

Sato

Totsuka

et al. 2007

Microbiology and Immunology

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Background. Hepatitis A infection is caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV) contracted through fecal‐oral transmission. Life‐long immunity is conferred after infection. Improved sanitary conditions have generally resulted in a significant decline in the incidence of hepatitis A. However, a low incidence of infection results in increased HAV susceptibility. The present study investigates the prevalence of anti‐HAV antibody and clarifies the current HAV status and HAV susceptibility in Japan at 2003. Methods. A total of 2,430 serum specimens collected during 2003 from Japanese individuals ranging in age from 0–92 years, were tested for anti‐HAV antibody using an inhibition enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. All specimens were obtained from the WHO and the National Serum Reference Bank/National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan. Results. The overall seroprevalence was 12.2%. Anti‐HAV antibodies were rarely detected in individuals between 0–44 years of age. Starting from the age of 45–49 years, seropositivity gradually increased through age 65 years and above. Seroprevalence was not affected by gender, and geographic distribution did not affect age‐specific seroprevalence until the age of 60 years. Conclusions. HAV susceptibility in Japan is increasing annually. Particularly, the prevalence of anti‐HAV antibody in individuals older than 50 years in 2003 was 50.3%, which is significantly lower than that of corresponding studies in 1994 (74.3%), 1984 (96.9%) and 1973 (96.9%). The growing susceptible population of advanced age results in more frequent HAV infection among them. The surveillance of anti‐HAV antibody prevalence is useful for implementing preventive measures and for controlling the spread of HAV.

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The Latest Seroepidemiological Pattern of Hepatitis a in Japan

Cited by 23 publications

References 14 publications

Change in hepatitis A virus seroepidemiology in southern Taiwan: a large percentage of the population lack protective antibody

Change in hepatitis A virus seroepidemiology in southern Taiwan: a large percentage of the population lack protective antibody

Distinct changing profiles of hepatitis A and E virus infection among patients with acute hepatitis, patients on maintenance hemodialysis and healthy individuals in Japan

Shifting Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis A in Japan, 1973–2003

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