title: Seroprevalence and Molecular Characterisation of Human Hepatitis A virus in Serum Samples of Tunisian Patients with Clinical Symptoms of Viral Hepatitis.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of Hepatitis A virus antibodies in patients with clinical symptoms of viral hepatitis and molecular characterization of the detected isolates. The present study deals with the seroprevalence and the genetic diversity of HAV in 400 Tunisian patients presenting in dispensaries (160 patients) and in University Hospitals (240 patients) with hepatitis symptoms between 2006 and 2008. The patients with acute hepatitis were mainly from rural regions. However, the total number of patients was decreased over time. The collected samples were from patients with hepatitis symptoms occurring mainly during January-March (36.7, 26, and 35.5%) and September-December (39.4, 43.4, and 35.5%) during the three years of study, respectively. However, HAV infection was established for only 110 among 400 patients. The detected isolates were clustered within sub-genotype IA. The present study constituted another report of the continued surveillance of HAV infection in the region of Monastir and the molecular characterisation of the detected strains.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Maladies Transmissibles et Substances Biologiquement Actives LR99ES27, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Avenue Avicenne, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hakima
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gharbi-Khelifi
authors.forename: Nabil Ben Salem
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.forename: Abir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beji
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bhiri
authors.forename: Rafik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harrath
authors.forename: Khira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sdiri
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Billaudel
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferre
authors.forename: Mahjoub
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aouni
keywords: Anti-HAV IgM; Hepatitis A virus; RT-PCR; Tunisia