Summary
In 1990, a prospective serological survey to estimate the rate of clinical and inapparent infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV) was performed in a cohort of 1,268 soldiers, 18–24 years old, during an 8 month period in the Campania region in Italy. At the time of enrollment 318 (25%) of the 1,268 soldiers were positive for total antibodies to HAV (anti-HAV). None of them was positive for IgM anti-HAV. Among the 950 susceptible subjects who were followed up for 8 months, eight (0.8%) later seroconverted to anti-HAV positivity. This figure corresponds to an incidence of 1.3/100 person/years (eight seroconversions during 633.3 years of observation). There were two clinical (with presence of IgM-anti-HAV) and six inapparent infections. The clinical/subclinical HAV ratio was 1 : 3. These findings indicate that the risk of HAV infection among soldiers residing in this area is not negligible.
Zusammenfassung
Um die Rate der klinischen und subklinischen Infektionen mit dem Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) zu bestimmen, wurde 1990 eine prospektive serologische Überwachungsstudie bei 1268 18–24 Jahre alten Soldaten während einer Zeitspanne von acht Monaten in der Region Campagna, Italien, durchgeführt. Bei Aufnahnme wiesen 318 der 1268 Soldaten (25%) Antikörper gegen HAV (anti-HAV) auf. Keiner war positiv für IgM anti-HAV. Unter den 950 empfänglichen Soldaten, die acht Monate lang beobachtet wurden, traten acht Fälle von Serokonversion zu anti-HAV auf (0,8%). Diese Zahl entspricht einer Inzidenz von 1,3/100 Personen/Jahr, (acht Serokonversionen während 633,3 Beobachtungsjahren). Zwei Infektionen wurden klinisch manifest (mit Nachweis von IgM anti-HAV) und sechs Infektionen verliefen klinisch inapparent. Die Rate klinischer zu subklinischen HAV-Infektionen betrug 1 : 3. Diese Daten zeigen, daß das Risiko für Soldaten, die in dieser Region wohnen, nicht zu vernachlässigen ist.
Article PDF
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Mele, A., Rapicetta, M., Stroffolini, T. Sistema epidemiologico integrato dell'epatite virale acuta. Rapporto annuale ISTISAN 2 (1992) 1–30.
Stroffolini, T., Manzillo, G., De Sena, R., Giusti, G. Typhoid fever in the Neapolitan area: a case-control study. Eur. J. Epidemiol. 8 (1993) 539–542.
Stroffolini, T., Chiaramonte, M., Franco, E., Rapicetta, M., De Mattia, D., Mura, I., Trivello, R., Giammanco, A., Rigo, G., Scarpa, B. Baseline seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection among children and teenagers in Italy. Infection 19 (1991) 97–100.
Stroffolini, T., D'Amelio, R., Matricardi, P. M.: Changing epidemiology of hepatitis A in Italy. Ital. J. Gastroenterol. (In press).
Pasquini, P., Kahn, H. A., Pileggi, D., Panà, A., Terzi, J., D'Arca, T. Prevalence of hepatitis A antibodies in Italy. Int. J. Epidemiol. 13 (1984) 83–86.
Hooper, R. R., Juels, C. W., Routenberg, J. A. An outbreak of type A viral hepatitis at the Naval Training Center. San Diego: epidemiologic evaluation. Am. J. Epidemiol. 105 (1977) 148–155.
Hawkins, R. E., Malone, J. D., Cloninger, L. A. Risk of viral hepatitis among military personnel assigned to US navy ships. J. Infect. Dis. 165 (1992) 716–719.
Stroffolini, T., Silleni, M., Curianò, C. M. Epidemiologia della febbre tifoide in Italia. Ann. Ist. Sup. Sanità. 24 (1988) 319–322.
Beasley, R. P., Hwang, L. V., Lin, C. C., Ko, Y. C., Twu, S. J. Incidence of hepatitis among students at a University in Taiwan. Am. J. Epidemiol. 117 (1983) 213–222.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Matricardi, P.M., D'Amelio, R., Biselli, R. et al. Incidence of hepatitis A virus infection among an Italian military population. Infection 22, 51–52 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01780768
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01780768