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

MARIA DOLORES BLANCO FERNANDEZ; CAROLINA TORRES; GABRIELA RIVIELLO LOPEZ; RAMIRO POMA; VERONICA B. RAJAL; SILVIA V. NATES; DANIEL CISTERNA; RODOLFO H. CAMPOS; VIVIANA A. MBAYED

CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012 vol. 18 p. 548 - 551

1198-743X

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has shown intermediate endemicity in Argentina, but its incidence 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 monitor single-dose vaccination schedule, representing not only strains causing disease but also the circulating population and the viral introduction.