title: High prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody among Bangladeshi children and young adults warrants pre-immunization screening of antibody in HAV vaccination strategy.
abstract: Serum samples from 465 subjects aged between 1 and 25 years were tested for antibody against hepatitis A virus (HAV) [anti-HAV IgG and IgM] to determine the seroprevalence of HAV antibody and do a cost-benefit analysis for decision making about vaccination against HAV among the general population of Bangladesh. A high prevalence of anti-HAV (74.8%) was observed in the study population; the whole study population was found positive for anti-HAV by the age of 25 years. On performing the cost-benefit analysis, it was found that the cost for vaccination with screening for anti-HAV was almost three times cheaper than vaccination without screening. Thus, in the present socioeconomic condition of Bangladesh, a policy based on screening for HAV antibody before vaccination is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Shahabag, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Munshi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nessa
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tabassum
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Islam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M