Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/34963
Type
ArticleCopyright
Open access
Collections
- IOC - Artigos de Periódicos [12502]
Metadata
Show full item record
SEASONAL VARIATION OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS INFECTION IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
Affilliation
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Departamento de Virologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.
Abstract
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection constitutes a major public health problem in Brazil. The transmission of HAV is primarily by
fecal-oral route so the water is an important vehicle of HAV dissemination. There is a great incidence of acute cases of hepatitis A in
some areas of Brazil however the seasonal variation of these cases was not documented. The aim of this study was to determine the
seasonality of HAV infection in Rio de Janeiro. From January 1999 to December 2001, 1731 blood samples were collected at the
National Reference Center for Hepatitis Viruses in Brazil (NRCHV). These samples were tested by a commercial enzyme-immunoassay
to detect anti-HAV IgM antibodies. Yearly positive rates were 33.74% in 1999, 32.19% in 2000, and 30.63% in 2001. A seasonal
variation was recognized with the highest incidence in spring and summer. Furthermore a seasonal increase in incidence of HAV
infection was found during the rainy season (December to March) because the index of rains is very high. It is concluded that HAV
infections occur all year round with a peak during hot seasons with great number of rains.
Share