Journal of Travel Medicine
Volume 18, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 126-129

Hepatitis A seroprevalence in a population of immigrants at a french vaccination center (Article) (Open Access)

Gergely A.E. , Bechet S. , De Fanti A.S. , Le Guern A.-S. , Goujon C. , Pelicot M. , Benabdelmoumen G. , Consigny P.-H.
  • a Institut Pasteur de Paris, Centre Médical, 209 Rue de Vaugirard, F-75015 Paris, France
  • b Institut Pasteur de Paris, Unité de Recherche et d'Expertise Epidémiologie des Maladies Emergentes, Paris, France
  • c Institut Pasteur de Paris, Centre Médical, 209 Rue de Vaugirard, F-75015 Paris, France
  • d Institut Pasteur de Paris, Centre Médical, 209 Rue de Vaugirard, F-75015 Paris, France
  • e Institut Pasteur de Paris, Centre Médical, 209 Rue de Vaugirard, F-75015 Paris, France
  • f Institut Pasteur de Paris, Centre Médical, 209 Rue de Vaugirard, F-75015 Paris, France
  • g Institut Pasteur de Paris, Centre Médical, 209 Rue de Vaugirard, F-75015 Paris, France
  • h Institut Pasteur de Paris, Centre Médical, 209 Rue de Vaugirard, F-75015 Paris, France

Abstract

Background. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended to people traveling to countries where the disease is endemic. Until recently, people originating from developing countries were considered to be "naturally" immunized. Because of improving socioeconomic conditions, hepatitis A incidence has decreased in most previously highly endemic countries during the last three decades, especially in the younger age groups. Methods. We analyzed hepatitis A seroprevalence of 989 travelers who had been born and lived at least 1 year in a developing country, wanted to travel to a hepatitis A endemic area, and consulted at the vaccination center of the Institut Pasteur of Paris between September 1, 2008 and February 28, 2010. Results. Hepatitis A serology results were available for 646 subjects. Overall seroprevalence was 82.4%. A total of 90, 82.6, 81.2, 68.4, 56.9, and 50% of people of sub-Saharan African, Near and Middle Eastern, North African, Asian, Latin American, and Eastern European origin had hepatitis A antibodies, respectively. The difference in seroprevalence according to the continent of origin, age, and length of stay in an endemic country was significant (p < 0.0001). More than 75% of seronegatives and less than 50% of seropositives were younger than 36 years. Almost three quarters of the positive group (while less than half of the negative group) lived longer than 18 years in a developing country. Multivariate analysis showed that seroprevalence increases with age, length of stay in a country at risk, and varies significantly from one continent to another. Conclusion. We recommend extending serologic confirmation of immigrants' hepatitis A immunity. If time is lacking, vaccination should be considered. © 2011 International Society of Travel Medicine.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant Hepatitis A Antibodies developing country France correlation analysis Developing Countries human hepatitis A middle aged travel Aged Young Adult Humans Adolescent male female Multivariate Analysis prevalence Article major clinical study adult hepatitis a virus Emigration and Immigration health center vaccination seroprevalence hepatitis A antibody Seroepidemiologic Studies Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-79952260498&doi=10.1111%2fj.1708-8305.2010.00495.x&partnerID=40&md5=9b50507125a6e364a78a88192bf89381
DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2010.00495.x
ISSN: 11951982
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English