Intrafamilial hepatitis A outbreak: projection on the community in an area of Tuscany.
In 1988, 3 intrafamilial cases of hepatitis A occurred in a little town in the nearby of Siena: shellfishes were probably responsible for the index case, close contacts for the two secondary cases, characterized by a very long incubation period (above 60 days). An inapparent infection was detected in one household contact. No other cases of hepatitis A have been observed in that area since the intrafamilial outbreak until now. A seroepidemiological survey was carried out in a group of persons living in the same area, and attending the same school or class-room of one of the secondary intrafamilial cases. 210 sera belonging to 105 teenagers were available; an IgG anti A test was performed on a double serum sample (before and after the outbreak): no seroconversion was observed. Our report underlines the hypoendemicity of hepatitis A infection in our country.
Braito
A
A
Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Siena.
Almi
P
P
Cellesi
C
C
Fanti
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G