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Hepatitis A virus in urban sewage from two Mediterranean countries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2006

R. M. PINTÓ
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
D. ALEGRE
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Serology Laboratory, Terrassa Health Consortium, Terrassa, Spain
A. DOMÍNGUEZ
Affiliation:
Department of Health and Social Security, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
W. M. EL-SENOUSY
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
G. SÁNCHEZ
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
C. VILLENA
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
M. I. COSTAFREDA
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
L. ARAGONÈS
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
A. BOSCH
Affiliation:
Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract

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Molecular methods for the detection and typing of hepatitis A virus (HAV) strains in sewage were applied to determine its distribution in Cairo and Barcelona. The study revealed the occurrence of different patterns of hepatitis A endemicity in each city. The circulating strains characterized, whether in Cairo or Barcelona, were genotype IB. The effects of a child vaccination programme and the increase in the immigrant population on the overall hepatitis A occurrence in Barcelona were evaluated. While vaccination contributed to a significant decrease in the number of clinical cases, the huge recent immigration flow has probably been responsible for the re-emergence of the disease in the last year of study, in the form of small outbreaks among the non-vaccinated population.

Type
Short Report
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press