Analysis of the circulation of hepatitis A virus in Argentina since vaccine introduction

BLANCO FERNANDEZ MD; TORRES C; RIVIELLO-LOPEZ G; POMA RH; RAJAL VB; NATES SV; CISTERNA DM; CAMPOS RH; MBAYED VA

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012 vol. 18 p. 548 - 548

lin Microbiol Infect 2012; 18: E548?E551 Abstract Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has shown intermediate endemicity in Argentina, but its incidence has decreased since vaccine introduction in 2005. Environmental surveillance was conducted in five rivers from Argentina from 2005 to 2012, complementing clinical information. HAV detection decreased since 2005, although its circulation continues, maintaining viral diversity but not undergoing antigenic drift. Most sequences belonged to subgenotype IA, closely related to Argentinean clinical sequences, but one belonged to proposed subgenotype IC, previously undetected in the country. Environmental surveillance might contribute to monitoring the single-dose vaccination schedule, representing not only strains causing disease but also the circulating population and the viral introductions.