title: Hepatitis A and E virus infections among children in Mongolia.
abstract: To compare the epidemiologic profiles of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in children in Mongolia, the prevalence of HAV and HEV infections was studied serologically and molecularly among 520 apparently healthy children 7-12 years of age (mean +/- standard deviation, 8.5 +/- 0.8 years) using serum samples obtained in 2004. Total antibody against HAV (anti-HAV) was detected in 438 children (84.2%), whereas IgG antibody against HEV (anti-HEV IgG) was detected in only three subjects (0.6%). All three subjects with anti-HEV IgG were negative for anti-HEV IgM and HEV RNA. The presence of HAV RNA was tested in all 520 subjects, and one child (9-year-old girl) was found to have detectable HAV RNA (subgenotype IA). In conclusion, HEV infection was uncommon, but subclinical HAV infection was highly prevalent among children in Mongolia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Health Sciences University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. davaalkham@hsum.edu.mn
authors.forename: Dambadarjaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davaalkham
authors.forename: Tsogzolbaatar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Enkhoyun
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yosikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okamoto
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D030041:Hepatitis A virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008986:Mongolia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral