Shifts in the rates and levels of antibody to hepatitis A virus associated with hepatitis A infection in children's communities |
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Authors: | S. A. Prikazchikov M. S. Balayan |
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Affiliation: | (1) Institute of Poliomyelitis and Viral Encephalitides, USSR Academy of Medical Sciencies, 142782 Moscow |
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Abstract: | In order to investigate the shift in the rates and levels of antibody to hepatitis A virus, 567 children in 20 isolated groups of five day-care centers were observed over a period of 8 months during which the seasonal rise in hepatitis A morbidity occurs. Increases in the proportion of seropositive ranging from 5 to 37% were demonstrated in 6 groups, and were always associated with the occurrence of either overt or sub-clinical hepatitis A infection. High rates of seropositivity were also noted in the groups in which cases of hepatitis A had been registered prior to the period of observation. In some children with low and medium antibody levels, antibody titres showed further increases after reinfection. A substantial part of children retained low antibody titres during the entire period of observation, and eight previously sero-negative children developed low antibody levels after asymptomatic hepatitis A infections. In one group the spread of hepatitis A infection (clinical and asymptomatic) was prevented by the administration of commercially available immunoglobulin immediately after the discovery of an infected food handler. Passive antibodies were found in previously sero-negative children, and these antibodies dropped to undetectable levels two months after administration. |
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Keywords: | Antibody to hepatitis A virus Follow-up study Hepatitis A infection Immunity |
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