Long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of universal hepatitis B virus vaccination in Taiwan

The long-term immunogenicity of universal hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine is seldom studied in large-scale prospective community-based populations, especially in adolescents. This study enrolled 1200 children aged 7 years with complete HBV immunization in infancy and determined HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), its antibody (anti-HBs), and HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) annually until the children were aged 14 years. Eleven children had new HBV infections with anti-HBc positivity as the only marker. None became positive for HBsAg or had detectable HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. The percentage of protective anti-HBs in 951 children without booster vaccination gradually decreased from 71.1% at age 7 years to 37.4% at age 12 years. Only 1 of the 200 children in the booster group and 2 of the 258 children in the nonbooster group developed new anti-HBc positivity. The results suggest that routine booster vaccination may not be required to provide protection against chronic HBV infection before age 15 years.     

Factors for predicting successful immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in HIV-1 infected patients

This study aimed to determine the predicting factors for successful hepatitis B vaccination among HIV-1 infected patients. A prospective study was conducted among HIV-1 infected patients who had negative HBV serologies. Anti-HBs antibody was evaluated one month after completing a 3-injection course of hepatitis B vaccine. Patients who had an anti-HBs antibody level >10 mlU/ml were defined as responders. There were 65 patients with a mean age of 39+/-8.5 years, 68% were females. Fifty-seven (88%) patients had received antiretroviral therapy for a mean (SD) duration of 26.1 (22.3) months and 75% of these had an HIV-1 RNA count <50 copies/ml. The mean (SD) CD4 cell count and percentage at the time of vaccination were 345 (194) cells/mm3 and 16 (7) %, respectively. Thirty patients (46%) were responders. Compared to non-responders, responders had a higher mean CD4 cell count (p = 0.047) and a trend toward a younger age (p = 0.052). On multivariate analysis, younger age (p = 0.049) and higher CD4 cell count (p = 0.048) were predictors for successful response to hepatitis B vaccination. Determination of antibody levels after vaccination in HIV-infected patients is warranted.     

Infektiosität eines vier Jahre alten Hepatitis B-Virusträgers und aktive Schutzimpfung seiner Spielkameraden

Screening the contacts of a 33-year-old father with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection revealed that this four-year-old adopted son was a persistent HBV carrier with massive viremia. The infection did not occur until they had been in contact for three and a half years. Serological findings from the wife, daughter and one of the children's playmates indicated previous hepatitis B infections which had been healed with a positive immune response. It is highly probable that the son induced these infections. The history of the child with persistent HBV infection as well as the clinical course indicate a perinatally acquired HBV infection. To prevent this infection from spreading further, seven playmates with an average age of five years were actively vaccinated against hepatitis B. The success of this vaccination was compared to a control group of adults. After applying the vaccine three times at four-week intervals, the seroconversion to anti-HBs occurred earlier and the antibody titres were higher in the children. 71% of the children had produced anti-HBs after the first vaccination compared to only 13% of the adults (mean age: 33 years). The rate of seroconversion was 100% for the children after the second vaccination, compared to only 93% for the adults four to six weeks after the third vaccination.     

Efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination in primary school children from a village endemic for Schistosoma mansoni.

To determine whether chronic Schistosoma mansoni infection interferes with hepatitis B virus (HBV) immunization, 308 schoolchildren aged 6-12 years with no evidence of prior HBV infection (156 with active schistosomiasis) were vaccinated with three 5-micrograms injections of recombinant DNA-derived HBV vaccine. The vaccine was given in the deltoid muscle at time 0 and 1 and 7 months later. All vaccinees were examined 1 and 3 years after vaccination for quantitative antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). Seroconversion was detected in 284 vaccinated children (92%), of whom 271 had a good (51-300 mIU/mL) or excellent (greater than 300 mIU/mL) anti-HBs response. Sixteen other children (5%) had evidence of natural HBV infection (antibody to hepatitis B core antigen). Of those with good or excellent response, 99% retained high antibody titers for 3 years. Response was not influenced by S. mansoni infection. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were associated with reduced vaccine response.     

Present epidemiological pattern of antibody to hepatitis a virus among Chiang Mai children,Northern Thailand

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is common in Southeast Asia, and most of the inhabitants acquire a lifelong immunity as a result of natural infection during childhood. However, the age-specific seroprevalence is changing with development of socioeconomic and hygiene status in this area and the infection is predicted to shift to adulthood with more severe clinical manifestations in the future. In this study, we report the present epidemiological pattern of antibody to HAV (anti-HAV) among schoolchildren in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. The overall prevalence rate of anti-HAV was 9.6% (11.4% in female and 7.5% in male children, and 10.8% in urban and 8.9% in rural schoolchildren, respectively). Our study, comparing with previous reports from other parts in Thailand, indicates a steady decline of anti-HAV prevalence among schoolchildren in Chiang Mai area, and discussed a possibility of an outbreak of HAV infection among urban schoolchildren.     

The relationship of hepatitis B virus infection between adults and their children in Guangxi Province, China

BACKGROUND/AIM: This study aimed to describe the seroepidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with emphasis on transmission of HBV infection between adults and their children. METHODS: We analyzed the hepatitis sero-survey data collected from 2132 persons aged 1-59 years (624 families) in Guangxi Province, China, 1992. Blood was tested for the presence of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and the antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). RESULTS: Of the 2132 persons surveyed, 119 (5.6%) reported receiving HBV vaccination. Among those persons who did not receive HBV vaccination, 19% were HBsAg positive (current HBV infection) and 57% had a past HBV infection (they were HBsAg negative and either anti-HBc positive or anti-HBs positive). Among 519 children aged 1-10 years who did not receive HBV vaccination, 21% had current HBV infection and 37% had past HBV infection. Among 289 children of both parents who were HBsAg negative, 16% had current HBV infection and 36% had past HBV infection. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of community-acquired HBV infection in children and the low HBV vaccination coverage in Guangxi should alert public health agencies to re-examine their current policies for preventing HBV transmission.     

Long-term immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccination in children and adolescents in a southern Italian town

Purpose

Universal anti-hepatitis B vaccination of infants and of 12-year-old children became mandatory in Italy in 1991. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-hepatitis B surface (HBs) antibodies several years after a primary course of vaccination.

Methods

In 2010, anti-HBs titers were measured in all subjects aged between 5 and 25?years residing in a southern Italian town. Individuals with an anti-hepatitis B antibody concentration of 10?IU/ml or more were considered to be protected.

Results

Of the 671 subjects evaluated, 149 (30%) lacked protective antibodies. Fifty-three (29.4%) of the subjects had been vaccinated ??10?years earlier and 96 (30.3%) more than 10?years earlier (P?=?not significant). Subjects vaccinated in infancy were more likely to lack protective anti-HBs antibodies than subjects vaccinated at 12?years of age, regardless of the years elapsed since immunization.

Conclusions

Most subjects maintained protective antibodies for a considerable number of years after vaccination. Vaccination in adolescence results in more prolonged immunogenicity than vaccination in infancy.     

Impact of the hepatitis B mass vaccination program in the southern part of Thailand.

By 1992, hepatitis B vaccine had been included in the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) on a nation-wide scale in Thailand. With the results now available from Songkhla Province in the south of Thailand, we are able to fully evaluate its impact on the prevalence of HBV infection and carrier rate. The population studied comprised 180 randomly selected children aged between 2 months and 15 years who had attended Hat Yai hospital due to any acute illness affecting neither the liver nor the immune system. Their sera were examined for the hepatitis markers HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc, respectively, using a commercially available test kit. We detected anti-HBs in 106 of the 180 children (58.9%) with its prevalence peaking within the age groups of 0-2 (94.4%) and 3-5 years (75.6%), respectively. Six children, five within the age groups of 6-10 and 11-15 years showed anti-HBc, one of them was diagnosed as a chronic carrier; the sixth one of the age group of 0-2 years most probably displayed passive maternal antibodies. The overall HBV carrier rate amounted to 0.55%. The hepatitis B mass vaccination program has proved highly efficient in protecting newborns from infection and heralds the promise of eventually eradicating hepatitis B virus in the not so far future.     

Seroprevalence of anti-HBs antibodies and the need for booster vaccination in children under 5 years of age born to HBsAg-negative mothers

Objective: To determine the proportion of HBV surface antigen(anti-HBs) antibody positive children under five years of age born to HBs Ag-negative mothers and to analyze the possible related factors following implementation of a hepatitis B vaccination program for infants in Indonesia 22 years ago.Methods: Blood samples were taken from children under five years of age born to HBsAg-negative mothers who have completed primary vaccination series. Anti-HBs antibodies were determined by using rapid test. Data of age, gender, nutritional status, vaccination timing or vaccination compliance, and booster vaccination were collected from vaccination card.Results: Ninety children were enrolled, consisting of 47 females and 43 males with a mean age of 2.3 years. Twenty two(24.4%)children received booster vaccine between 18 and 24 months and 55(61.1%) were anti-HBs positive. Among factors of age, gender,nutritional status, compliance to vaccination and booster vaccine,only administration of booster vaccine was significantly associated with anti-HBs status(OR 5.45, 95% CI 1.45, 20.52). Children who received booster vaccine at age of 18-24 months were 5.45 times more likely to be anti-HBs positive than that of children who did not receive booster vaccine.Conclusions: Booster vaccine rate is low among children under 5 years of age but is associated with anti-HBs positivity. Booster vaccination may be required to improve anti-HBs seropositivity.     

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus during pregnancy and delivery in Denmark

Objective: In Denmark, pregnant women have been screened for hepatitis B virus (HBV) since 2005, and children born to HBV-infected mothers offered hepatitis B immunoglobulin at birth, vaccination against HBV at birth and after 1, 2 and 12 months. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of vertical HBV transmission in children born to mothers with chronic HBV infection, to investigate the antibody response in the children and to investigate possible maternal predictive risk factors for HBV transmission.

Materials and methods: Through the Danish Database for Hepatitis B and C, we identified 589 HBV-infected women who had given birth to 686 children, of whom 370 children were born to 322 women referred to hospital. 132 (36%) children, born to 109 mothers, were included in the study; 128 children had blood samples tested for HBsAg, anti-HBc (total), anti-HBs and HBV-DNA and four children had saliva samples tested for anti-HBc.

Results: We found vertical HBV transmission in Denmark to be 2.3% [95% CI: 0.5, 6.5], a high proportion of HBsAg-negative children with low levels of anti-HBs (18.4%) and a high proportion (15.2%) with resolved HBV infection. No maternal risk factor was statistically significantly associated with HBV vertical transmission.

Conclusion: In a HBV low prevalence setting as Denmark, despite a national vaccination program, vertical HBV transmission occurred in 2.3% of children born to HBV-infected mothers. In addition, a high proportion of the children had insufficient anti-HBs levels and a high proportion had serological signs of resolved HBV infection.     

Humoral immune response following hepatitis B vaccine booster dose in children with and without prior immunization.

One hundred and twenty-three children who had received no, incomplete and complete primary hepatitis B vaccination but had negative or very low anti-HBs titer were immunized with a single dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Blood tests for anti-HBs were obtained at 30 +/- 5 days after the booster immunization. Twelve of 18 (66.7%) children without prior immunization (group 1) seroconverted following the single dose Seroconversion rates in children who had undetectable anti-HBs with incomplete and complete primary immunization (group 2 and 3) were 83.34% and 94.5%, respectively. All children with complete 3- dose vaccination but who had low anti-HBs titer (group 4) also seroconverted. This study confirmed that immunological memory, allowing a protective anamnestic response, lasted at least 8 years in children who had received primary HB immunization with undetectable anti-HBs. Therefore, we conclude that the booster dose after complete vaccination is not necessary in healthy children.     

Two decades of universal hepatitis B vaccination in taiwan: impact and implication for future strategies

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Following the world's first successful implementation of a universal hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination program for infants in Taiwan 20 years ago, we performed this study to evaluate the long-term protection afforded by HBV vaccination and to rationalize further prevention strategies. METHODS: HBV seromarkers, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) and core antigen (anti-HBc), were studied in 18,779 subjects from neonates to adults below 30 years of age in 2004. The birth cohort effect was evaluated by comparing the results of the same birth cohorts at different ages among this survey and the previous 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999 surveys. RESULTS: The seropositive rates for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc were 1.2%, 50.5%, and 3.7%, respectively, in those born after the vaccination program (<20 years of age) in 2004. A positive maternal HBsAg status was found in 89% of the HBsAg seropositive subjects born after the vaccination program. The absence of an increase in HBsAg seropositive subjects at different ages in the same birth cohorts born after the vaccination program implied no increased risk of persistent HBV infection with aging. CONCLUSIONS: Universal HBV vaccination provides long-term protection up to 20 years, and a universal booster is not indicated for the primary HBV vaccinees before adulthood. Maternal transmission is the primary reason for vaccine failure and is the challenge that needs to be addressed in future vaccination programs. This may include an appropriate hepatitis B immunoglobulin administration strategy for high-risk infants and involve efforts to minimize noncompliance.     

Efficacy of accelerated hepatitis B vaccination program in patients being actively treated for hematologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to conduct an accelerated vaccination program and to determine its efficacy in patients susceptible to hepatitis B virus (HBV) receiving chemotherapy because of their hematologic malignancies. METHODS: Over a one-year period, a total of 327 patients who were diagnosed as having a hematologic malignancy were serologically analyzed in terms of HBV infection. Of those found to be susceptible to HBV infection, a total of 42 patients consisting of 16 females and 26 males were enrolled in the accelerated vaccination program. All the patients were administered a 20-microg yeast-derived recombinant hepatitis B vaccine on days 0, 14, and 28. Anti-HBs titers above 10IU/l at 1 and 3 months after the final dose were accepted as protective. RESULTS: A total of 146 (44.6%) patients were susceptible to HBV, while 13 (4.0%) were carriers, 28 (8.6%) were vaccinated, and 113 (34.5%) had had a previous HBV infection. A total of 42 patients (16 females and 26 males, mean age 34.5+/-10.9 years) were enrolled in the vaccination program. Overall, 23.8% (10/42) of the patients in the program had developed anti-HBs at one month after the last vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Poor results obtained by different vaccination programs suggest the need for alternative strategies to prevent the disease.     

A cross-sectional study on anti hepatitis B immune status in vaccinated healthcare workers in the west pomeranian region of poland

Background

Hepatitis B vaccination, recommended for medical staff, has a non-response rate of 5% to 32%. In Poland, there is no standardized postvaccination protocol to verify immunity.

Objectives

To determine the fraction of those who have been vaccinated against HBV (with a complete course followed/not followed by a booster) but not checked for serological evidence of hepatitis B immunity and to detect anti-HBs levels in this group by anonymous cross-sectional sero-survey.

Patients and Methods

Surgical/gynecological staff from 16 randomly selected hospitals in West Pomerania, Poland, were surveyed between July 2010-January 2011. EIA system version 3.0 was used to detect anti-HBs.

Results

Of 488 participants (439 females, median age 42 years) who were previously vaccinated (1-21 years ago), anti-HBs status was not determined after HBV vaccination in 361 individuals (74.0%; 95% CI: 69.9-77.7%), 5% (18/361) of whom had an anti-HBs titer of 0.0 mIU/ml (12/18 who were given booster doses developed anti-HBs > 10 mIU/ml) and 7.2% (26/361) of whom had an anti-HBs titer of 0.1-10 mIU/ml. The multivariate logistic regression model revealed that working in a teaching hospital was associated with lower odds of not being checked for anti-HBs after HBV vaccination (OR 0.22, 95% CI: 0.14-0.35; P = 0.0001).

Conclusions

The lack of a strict post-HBV vaccination policy to confirm immunity results in the majority of surgical/gynecological staff not checking their anti-HBs levels after HBV immunization. It is unknown whether the absence of current serological evidence of hepatitis B immunity can be attributed to non-response, the waning of vaccine-induced immunity, or preserved anamnestic response. The lack of a booster vaccination response in a fraction of subjects suggests that they are non-responders. Strict post-vaccination testing to document immunity remains the key practice to detect non-responders among medical staff.     

新生儿乙型肝炎疫苗普遍接种的长期免疫效果

目的 观察新生儿乙型肝炎(简称乙肝)疫苗普遍接种预防儿童期乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染的长期免疫效果和对儿童乙肝发病的影响。 方法 1986年起在乙肝高发区隆安县实施不筛检母亲HBsAg、新生儿普遍接种常规剂量乙肝疫苗的免疫方案。采用出生队列定群随访、横断面调查和监测乙肝发病情况的方法对血源乙肝疫苗和重组酵母乙肝疫苗的保护效果进行观察。 结果 血源乙肝疫苗免疫后1～1 3年HBsAg阳性率为0.7％～2.9％,平均1.7％,保护率为83.5％～96.6％,HBV感染率为1.1％～5.1％,平均2.4％,保护率为93.5％～98.4％。重组酵母乙肝疫苗免疫儿童的HBsAg阳性率为1.8％～2.4％,平均2.0％,保护率为78.4％-85.2％。免疫实施14年后, 1～14岁人群乙肝发病率为1.5/10万,比历史对照同龄者减少了91.8％;未免疫儿童发病率为14.4/1 0万,与历史对照差异无显著性,免疫儿童中无乙肝病例发生,保护率为100％。 结论 新生儿乙肝疫苗免疫后13年内不必加强免疫,重组酵母乙肝疫苗与血源性乙肝疫苗的保护效果相似,乙肝疫苗预防作用已初见成效。     

Genotypes of hepatitis B virus among children in Chiang Mai, Thailand

In sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific, and particularly Asia, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly endemic, the most common route of transmission is perinatal. To minimize the number of horizontal transmissions, we determined the prevalence of HBV genotypes among children in northern Thailand. From a survey of 1,231 schoolchildren in Chiang Mai during 1998 to 2000, 55 (4.5%) were found positive for HBsAg. Fifty-three HBsAg-positive samples were available for this study. These came from 28 girls (52.8%) and 25 boys (47.2%), age 5-16 years, with a mean age of 12.8 (+/-2.6) years. The laboratory method was based on a multiplex-PCR for the detection of 6 HBV genotypes (A-F). Among 53 HBsAg positive cases, 48 (90.6%) were genotype C, followed by 4 cases of genotype B (7.5%), and 1 case (1.9%) with mixed infection with genotypes B and C. The high prevalence of HBV genotype C follow by genotype B is similar to that found among blood donors in northern Thailand and the nationwide epidemiological survey conducted in 2004. Perinatal transmission may play an important role in the spread of the virus in this area, as in other Asian countries, where genotypes C and B are highly prevalent.     

Elimination of new chronic hepatitis B virus infections: results of the Alaska immunization program

An immunization assessment and a serologic survey were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a hepatitis B immunization program in eliminating hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission among Alaska Natives in a region in which HBV infection is endemic. Hepatitis B vaccine coverage was 93% among 567 children 相似文献