Hepatitis A in central Argentina: anti-HAV prevalence in adults living
in a region of low endemicity after 17 years of the official
introduction of the vaccine.
Abstract
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has a low endemic circulation pattern in
Argentina. Notifications of clinical cases occur especially in
susceptible young adults in whom outbreaks have recently been reported.
The aim of this study was to provide updated information on HAV immune
status of the adult population from central Argentina. A retrospective
analysis was carried out recording the results of IgG-anti HAV in 4235
samples of people without prior vaccination from Córdoba, Argentina
(2019 and 2022). Epidemiological data was recorded: sex, age, HIV
status, income-status. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV was 70.1%. It
increased with age, was associated with the low-income population and
was significantly higher in female patients (p<0.0001).
Individuals under 35 years old exhibited anti-HAV IgG rates
<54%. Considering the high proportion of young adult
individuals susceptible to HAV infection found, together with evidence
of HAV circulation in the region, which can be easily introduced by
unvaccinated immigrants or travelers from medium/high endemic countries
and the existence of a safe, efficient vaccine, we strongly recommend to
increase the study of HAV immunity in individuals >18 years
old in our region. In case they are negative, it is recommended
vaccination.