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. 2021 Sep 16;16(9):e0256818.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256818. eCollection 2021.

HAV infection in Brazilian men who have sex with men: The importance of surveillance to avoid outbreaks

Lisie Souza Castro  1   2 , Grazielli Rocha de Rezende  1 , Fernanda Rodas Pires Fernandes  1   3 , Larissa Melo Bandeira  1 , Gabriela Alves Cesar  1 , Barbara Vieira do Lago  4 , Michele Soares Gomes Gouvêa  5 , Ana R C Motta-Castro  1   6
Affiliations

HAV infection in Brazilian men who have sex with men: The importance of surveillance to avoid outbreaks

Lisie Souza Castro et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis A is a fecal-oral infection caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) have been reported as target groups for HAV infection. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors, and circulating strains associated with HAV infection among MSM and TW in Central Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2011 to September 2013. Serum samples were collected from 425 individuals for anti-HAV antibody testing and HAV molecular characterization. Of them, 149 (35.1%) participants were self-identified as transgender women. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors of HAV seropositivity.

Results: The seroprevalence of HAV exposure was 69.7% (95% Confidence Interval: 65.3-74.0%). Serological evidence of HAV was significantly higher in participants who self-identified as transgender women (83.2%) than MSM (62.3%). Increasing age, non-white race, and lower monthly household income were independently associated with HAV exposure among MSM. Only lower monthly household income was independently associated with HAV exposure among TW. One anti-HAV IgM positive sample, from a transgender woman (0.2%), was detected and classified as subgenotype IA.

Conclusions: High HAV prevalence was observed, markedly among TW. Considering the risky sexual behaviors this population is exposed to, HAV vaccination and prevention programs targeting this population should be considered to prevent outbreaks and the burden of the disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on 85 HAV VP1-2A genotype IA sequences.
In addition, sequences of genotypes IB and IIA were included as an outgroup. HAV sequence from this study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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