A case of post-outbreak acute hepatitis a in a Japanese man who have sex with men infected with RIVM-HAV16-090 strain
- PMID: 40023223
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2025.102673
A case of post-outbreak acute hepatitis a in a Japanese man who have sex with men infected with RIVM-HAV16-090 strain
Abstract
Aim: Hepatitis A outbreaks among men who have sex with men (MSM) are a growing global concern. We present a case report of acute hepatitis A in a Japanese MSM who acquired the infection after the conclusion of a recent hepatitis A outbreak in Japan during his subsequent visit to Taiwan.
Case presentation: A 27-year-old male had experienced fever, headache, and loss of appetite over the previous eight days. After his jaundiced skin was noted during a routine health examination, he visited our outpatient department that same day. The severe liver dysfunction detected in blood tests necessitated hospitalization for acute hepatitis. Subsequent tests revealed positive HA-IgM antibodies, confirming acute hepatitis A. Further inquiry revealed the patient's MSM status and recent sexual encounter one and a half months earlier during a visit to Taiwan. With conservative treatment, his condition improved and he was discharged after 12 days. Phylogenetic analysis extracted from his stool sample confirmed that the hepatitis A virus (HAV) strain was RIVM-HAV16-090, consistent with strains observed in previous hepatitis outbreaks among MSM populations.
Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of acute hepatitis A in a Japanese MSM sporadically infected with the RIVM-HAV16-090 strain since the end of the outbreak. This case underscores the persistent risk of hepatitis A transmission among MSM despite the cessation of the outbreak, emphasizing the importance of targeted vaccination campaigns, sexual health education, and ongoing vigilance in mitigating the risk of hepatitis A transmission among MSM.
Keywords: EuroPride; Hepatitis A; Men who have sex with men; RIVM-HAV16-090.
Copyright © 2025 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of interest None.
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