BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of Acute Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) have been reported in Europe and, recently, in Italy. From July 2008 through January 2010, 162 HAV infections were diagnosed at National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy, with high male-to-female ratio (M:F=7.5). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize viral strains involved in this outbreak. STUDY DESIGN: The sequences of VP1-2A junction of HAV genome, obtained from 67/97 HAV-RNA-positive samples, were used for phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: All but 1 of the HAV sequences were genotype 1A, 1 was genotype 1B. A monophyletic cluster, including 59/66 genotype IA sequences, was identified by phylogenetic analysis. This cluster included also 2 HAV strains isolated in Germany (2007) and France (2008) from MSM, that, in turn, were reported to be genetically correlated to HAV strains circulating in Tuscany in 2008. Among the males harboring an HAV strain belonging to the cluster, 62% reported to be MSM, and 25% were HIV-positive, 2 with acute HIV infection. CONCLUSION: The outbreak occurred in Rome in 2008-2010, involving high proportion of HIV-infected MSM, is sustained by a monophyletic HAV strain, circulating around the same period also in other European countries. Possible factors favouring HAV spread among HIV-infected persons, such as high risk behavior and prolonged fecal excretion, need to be further elucidated. Timely identification of outbreaks with one or the same source of infection may be helpful to implement preventive measures addressing at risk populations.
BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of Acute Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) have been reported in Europe and, recently, in Italy. From July 2008 through January 2010, 162 HAV infections were diagnosed at National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy, with high male-to-female ratio (M:F=7.5). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize viral strains involved in this outbreak. STUDY DESIGN: The sequences of VP1-2A junction of HAV genome, obtained from 67/97 HAV-RNA-positive samples, were used for phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: All but 1 of the HAV sequences were genotype 1A, 1 was genotype 1B. A monophyletic cluster, including 59/66 genotype IA sequences, was identified by phylogenetic analysis. This cluster included also 2 HAV strains isolated in Germany (2007) and France (2008) from MSM, that, in turn, were reported to be genetically correlated to HAV strains circulating in Tuscany in 2008. Among the males harboring an HAV strain belonging to the cluster, 62% reported to be MSM, and 25% were HIV-positive, 2 with acute HIV infection. CONCLUSION: The outbreak occurred in Rome in 2008-2010, involving high proportion of HIV-infected MSM, is sustained by a monophyletic HAV strain, circulating around the same period also in other European countries. Possible factors favouring HAV spread among HIV-infectedpersons, such as high risk behavior and prolonged fecal excretion, need to be further elucidated. Timely identification of outbreaks with one or the same source of infection may be helpful to implement preventive measures addressing at risk populations.
Authors: Warunee Thienkrua; Frits van Griensven; Philip A Mock; Eileen F Dunne; Boonyos Raengsakulrach; Wipas Wimonsate; Nopporn Howteerakul; Chaiwat Ungsedhapand; Anupong Chiwarakorn; Timothy H Holtz Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2018-07
Authors: Niroshana J Dahanayaka; Tomoko Kiyohara; Suneth B Agampodi; Pradeep K Samaraweera; Gayani K Kulasooriya; Jagath C Ranasinghe; Saveen N Semage; Sayaka Yoshizaki; Takaji Wakita; Koji Ishii Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2016-07-05 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: P Mook; D Gardiner; S Kanagarajah; M Kerac; G Hughes; N Field; N McCarthy; C Rawlings; I Simms; C Lane; P D Crook Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2018-06-20 Impact factor: 4.434
Authors: Gudrun S Freidl; Gerard Jb Sonder; Lian Pmj Bovée; Ingrid Hm Friesema; Gini Gc van Rijckevorsel; Wilhelmina Lm Ruijs; Frank van Schie; Evelien C Siedenburg; Jyh-Yuan Yang; Harry Vennema Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2017-02-23
Authors: Patricia Ndumbi; Gudrun S Freidl; Christopher J Williams; Otilia Mårdh; Carmen Varela; Ana Avellón; Ingrid Friesema; Harry Vennema; Kazim Beebeejaun; Siew Lin Ngui; Michael Edelstein; Alison Smith-Palmer; Niamh Murphy; Jonathan Dean; Mirko Faber; Jürgen Wenzel; Mia Kontio; Luise Müller; Sofie Elisabeth Midgley; Lena Sundqvist; Josefine Lundberg Ederth; Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso; Elisabeth Couturier; Sofieke Klamer; Javiera Rebolledo; Vanessa Suin; Stephan W Aberle; Daniela Schmid; Rita De Sousa; Gonçalo Figueiredo Augusto; Valeria Alfonsi; Martina Del Manso; Anna Rita Ciccaglione; Kassiani Mellou; Christos Hadjichristodoulou; Alastair Donachie; Maria-Louise Borg; Maja Sočan; Mario Poljak; Ettore Severi Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2018-08