medigraphic.com
Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública

2007, Number S3

<< Back Next >>

salud publica mex 2007; 49 (S3)

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A in Mexico. A detector of social inequity and monitor of immunization policies

Valdespino JL, Ruiz-Gómez J, Olaiz-Fernández G, Arias-Toledo E, Conde-González CJ, Palma O, Sepúlveda J

Language: Spanish
References: 17
Page: 377-385
PDF size: 203.66 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Objective. Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) in Mexico has traditionally been considered a disease with a homogeneous pattern of transmission, high rates of infection at early ages, and infrequent complication rates. The purpose of this study was to take advantage of the 2000 NHS, a probabilistic population-based survey, in order to describe the seroepidemiology of HAV infection in Mexico. Material and Methods. This study is based on information obtained from the National Health Survey that was conducted in 2000. The present report is based on 4 907 randomly selected samples that were studied to determine the prevalence of HAV antibodies using immunoenzymatic assay. Sera were collected from November 1999 to June 2000. Results. Seroprevalence among the general population was 81.3% (CI95%: 78.6-84.2); expanded results allow the inference that 78.7 million Mexicans have been infected by this agent. Risk factors for HAV among children younger than nine years of age are the following: residence in southern states OR=5.3, residence in rural communities OR= 3.1, low-income family OR= 2.4 and living in households with limited access to sanitary facilities (water OR= 2.5 and sewage OR= 2.7). Conclusions. Results of this study demonstrate that HAV transmission patterns are heterogeneous and that differentials in the prevalence of infection are due to sanitary and social inequity among studied populations. Finally, the advantages of adopting public health measures such as vaccination and improvement of sanitary and socioeconomic conditions are discussed.


REFERENCES

  1. Cuthbert JA. Hepatitis A: old and new. Clin Microbiol Rev 2001;14(1):38-58.

  2. Prevention of hepatitis A through active or passive immunization: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 1999;48(RR-12):1-37.

  3. Costa-Mattioli M, Cristina J, Romero H, et al. Molecular evolution of hepatitis A virus: a new classification based on the complete VP1 protein. J Virol 2002;76(18):9516-9525.

  4. Jong EC. United States epidemiology of hepatitis A: influenced by immigrants visiting friends and relatives in Mexico? Am J Med 2005;118(Suppl 10A):S50-S57.

  5. Doyle TJ, Bryan RT. Infectious disease morbidity in the US region bordering Mexico, 1990-1998. J Infect Dis 2000;182(5):1503-1510.

  6. Webster G, Barnes E, Dusheiko G, et al. Protecting travellers from hepatitis A. BMJ 2001;322(7296):1194-1195.

  7. Mutsch M, Spicher VM, Gut C, et al. Hepatitis A virus infections in travelers, 1988-2004. Clin Infect Dis 2006;42(4):490-497.

  8. Shapiro CN, Coleman PJ, McQuillan GM, et al. Epidemiology of hepatitis A: seroepidemiology and risk groups in the USA. Vaccine 1992;10(Suppl 1):S59-S62.

  9. Wheeler C, Vogt TM, Armstrong GL, et al. An outbreak of hepatitis A associated with green onions. N Engl J Med 2005;353(9):890-897.

  10. Notice to Readers: FDA Approval of Havrix® (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated) for Persons Aged 1-18 Years. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005;54(48):1235-1236.

  11. Notice To Readers: FDA Approval of VAQTA® (Hepatitis A Vaccine, Inactivated) for Children Aged >1 Year. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005;54(40):1026.

  12. Kershenobich D. Hepatitis A: is universal vaccination justified in Mexico? Rev Gastroenterol Mex 1996;61(4 Suppl 2):S69-S70.

  13. Mazari-Hiriart M, López-Vidal Y, Ponce-de-Leon S, et al. Longitudinal study of microbial diversity and seasonality in the Mexico City metropolitan area water supply system. Appl Environ Microbiol 2005;71(9):5129-5137.

  14. Kumate J, Alvizouri AM, Isibasi A. Serologic survey of hepatitis A antibodies in Mexican children. Bull Pan Am Health Organ 1982;16(2):156-160.

  15. Ruiz-Gómez J, Bustamante-Calvillo ME. Hepatitis A antibodies: prevalence and persistence in a group of Mexican children. Am J Epidemiol 1985;121(1):116-119.

  16. Bustamante-Calvillo ME, Velázquez-Castillo FR, Padilla-Noriega L, et al. Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A virus infection in communities of the southern border of the State of Chiapas. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex 1986;43(12):735-741.

  17. Tapia-Conyer R, Santos JI, Cavalcanti AM, et al. Hepatitis A in Latin America: a changing epidemiologic pattern. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1999;61(5):825-829.




2020     |     www.medigraphic.com