Shifts in the Rates and Levels of Antibody to Hepatitis A Virus Associated with Hepatitis A Infection in Children's Communities

• Published in: European journal of epidemiology 1987-12, Vol.3 (4), p.370-376
• Main Authors: Prikazchikov, S. A., Balayan, M. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Antigens; Child; Child Day Care Centers; Child, Preschool; Children; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A - epidemiology; Hepatitis A virus; Hepatitis Antibodies - analysis; Hepatovirus - immunology; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Immunoglobulins - administration & dosage; Infections; Morbidity; Reinfection; Specimens; USSR
• ISSN: 0393-2990; 0392-2990; 1573-7284
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00145647

In order to investigate the shift in the rates and levels of antibody to hepatitis A virus, 567 children in 20 isolated groups of five day-care centers were observed over a period of 8 months during which the seasonal rise in hepatitis A morbidity occurs. Increases in the proportion of seropositive ranging from 5 to 37% were demonstrated in 6 groups, and were always associated with the occurrence of either overt or sub-clinical hepatitis A infection. High rates of seropositivity were also noted in the groups in which cases of hepatitis A had been registered prior to the period of observation. In some children with low and medium antibody levels, antibody titres showed further increases after reinfection. A substantial part of children retained low antibody titres during the entire period of observation, and eight previously sero-negative children developed low antibody levels after asymptomatic hepatitis A infections. In one group the spread of hepatitis A infection (clinical and asymptomatic) was prevented by the administration of commercially available immunoglobulin immediately after the discovery of an infected food handler. Passive antibodies were found in previously sero-negative children, and these antibodies dropped to undetectable levels two months after administration.