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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.
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  • Gonzalo Castro,
  • Vanesa Mamani,
  • Jorge Mariojoules Bringas,
  • Pablo Chumacero,
  • Paola Díaz,
  • Graciela Scruzzi,
  • Maribel Martínez Wassaf,
  • Mariel Borda,
  • Laura López,
  • Maria Barbas,
  • Maria BELEN PISANO,
  • Viviana Re
Gonzalo Castro
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Vanesa Mamani
LACE Laboratorios
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Jorge Mariojoules Bringas
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba
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Pablo Chumacero
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba
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Paola Díaz
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba
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Graciela Scruzzi
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba
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Maribel Martínez Wassaf
LACE Laboratorios
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Mariel Borda
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba
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Laura López
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba
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Maria Barbas
Ministerio de Salud de la Provincia de Córdoba
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Maria BELEN PISANO
Universidad Nacional de Cordoba Instituto de Virologia Dr Jose Maria Vanella
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Viviana Re
Universidad Nacional de Cordoba Instituto de Virologia Dr Jose Maria Vanella
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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.