Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives

Brief Report

Gender differences in hepatitis A seropositivity rates according to the Republic of Korea’s vaccination policy: Hyunjin Son, Sunhyun Ahn, Wonseo Park, Gayoung Chun, Unyeong Go, Sang Gon Lee, Eun Hee Lee; Received September 18, 2023 Accepted January 22, 2024 Published online April 16, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2023.0263 [Epub ahead of print]

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Abstract PDF: Objectives
This study aimed to investigate differences in the anti-hepatitis A (HAV) antibody seropositivity rate by age and gender.
Methods
We collected information on anti-HAV immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M status from samples submitted for HAV antibody testing in 2012–2022. A total of 1,333,615 cases were included in the analysis.
Results
By age, the seropositivity rate was represented by a U-shaped curve, such that the rate was low for the group aged 20 to 39 years and higher in those who were younger or older. Over time, the curve shifted rightward, and the seropositivity rate declined gradually in the group aged 35 to 39 years and older. A gender-based difference in antibody seropositivity rate was especially noticeable in the group aged 20 to 29 years. This difference between genders widened in the participants’ early 20s—when men in the Republic of Korea enlist in the military—and the divergence continued subsequently for older individuals.
Conclusion
These results indicate a higher risk of severe infection among older individuals and a gender-based difference in seroprevalence. Therefore, it is necessary to implement policies to promote vaccination in adults.

Original Articles

A case-control study of acute hepatitis A in South Korea, 2019: Jung Hee Hyun, Ju Young Yoon, Sang Hyuk Lee; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2022;13(5):352-359. Published online October 12, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0141

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF

Objectives
We aimed to reconfirm the source of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection through epidemiological and genotype investigations of individual cases in a 2019 outbreak in South Korea. Methods: We investigated food intake histories, associations with hepatitis A, and genotypes of HAV in 31 patients with hepatitis aged 20 to 49 years registered in the integrated disease and health management system during December 1–7, 2019 (case group) and in 35 sex- and agematched people without a history of HAV vaccination or infection among patients’ families and colleagues (control group). Results: The consumption of salted clams was a significant factor (odds ratio, 4.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.32–14.18) in the risk factor analysis of food intake history. HAV genotypes were analyzed in 24 of 31 patients. Type IA and type IIIA were found in 23 and 1 cases, respectively. Conclusion: Salted clams are considered to have been the source of HAV infection at 49 weeks of the HAV outbreak in 2019; this result was consistent with that of a previous epidemiological investigation conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in September 2019. Therefore, monitoring of the production and distribution of salted clams needs to be continued.

Citations

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Monitoring viruses and beta-lactam resistance genes through wastewater surveillance during a COVID-19 surge in Suwon, South Korea
Rajendra Singh, Jaewon Ryu, Sung Soo Park, Sungpyo Kim, Keugtae Kim
Science of The Total Environment.2024; 922: 171223. CrossRef
Prevalence of foodborne viruses and influenza A virus from poultry processing plants to retailed chickens
Daseul Yeo, Mengxiao Song, Md. Iqbal Hossain, Soontag Jung, Zhaoqi Wang, Dong Joo Seo, Min Suk Rhee, Changsun Choi
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
A Study on the Detection Rate of Hepatitis A from Gastroenteritis Patients and the Genotype Analysis of Hepatitis A Virus in Busan
Sun Hee Park, Chanhee Kim, Summi Lee, Jihye Jeong, Junghye Choi, Seung Ju Lee
Journal of Bacteriology and Virology.2023; 53(2): 74. CrossRef
A Study on the Detection Rate of Hepatitis A from Gastroenteritis Patients and the Genotype Analysis of Hepatitis A Virus in Busan
Sun Hee Park, Chanhee Kim, Summi Lee, Jihye Jeong, Junghye Choi, Seung Ju Lee
Journal of Bacteriology and Virology.2023; 53(2): 74. CrossRef

Factors Related to Completed Status and Seropositivity of Hepatitis A Immunization Among Children Aged 1–3 Years and 6–8 Years in South Korea: Jee-Young Hong, Mo Ran Ki, Hye-Jung Hwang, Delacroix Sinny, Young-Joon Park, Geun-Ryang Bae, Moo-Sik Lee; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2013;4(2):93-98. Published online April 30, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2013.02.004

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Abstract PDF

This study was designed to identify factors associated with hepatitis A immunization status and seropositivity in Korean children. In-person interviews, reviewing their vaccination cards and testing hepatitis A antibody were conducted with 389 children aged 1–3 years and 544 children aged 6–8 years. In all age groups, earlier birth order was the only significant factor in children receiving either single or both doses of the vaccination. And completion of the second dose of vaccination was a prerequisite for increased seropositivity. Additionally, household income had a positive impact on seropositivity only in children aged 6–8 years. Our findings suggest that presence of an economic barrier is the underlying cause of the decreased hepatitis A vaccination services in Korea. Therefore, hepatitis A vaccine should be included in the essential National Immunization Program.

Citations

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Vaccine Uptake to Prevent Meningitis and Encephalitis in Shanghai, China
Hairenguli Maimaiti, Jia Lu, Xiang Guo, Lu Zhou, Linjie Hu, Yihan Lu
Vaccines.2022; 10(12): 2054. CrossRef
Changing sero-epidemiology of hepatitis A in Asia Pacific countries: A systematic review
Marissa Gripenberg, Naveena Aloysia D’Cor, Maïna L’Azou, Grenville Marsh, Sophie Druelles, Joshua Nealon
International Journal of Infectious Diseases.2018; 68: 13. CrossRef

Article

Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis A Infection in Northeastern China, Korea, and Japan: Haesun Yun, Hyeok-Jin Lee, Youngsil Yoon, Kisang Kim, Sungsoo Kim, Myung-Hee Shin, Miyuki Taniguchi, Soo Ryang Kim, Mi Kyung Kim; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2012;3(1):31-35. Published online December 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2012.01.005

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Abstract PDF

Objectives
The epidemiological patterns of endemic hepatitis A virus (HAV) are unclear in northeastern Asia depending on the ethnicity of the country in question. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HAV in northeastern China, South Korea, and Japan.
Methods
A total of 1,500 serum samples were collected from five groups of inhabitants (300 each) who were over 40 years of age (Korean Chinese, indigenous Chinese, South Korean, Korean living in Japan, and indigenous Japanese). The samples were screened for antibodies to HAV using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
Positivity for HAV antibodies was 93.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.9–96.4) in Koreans living in northeastern China, 99.7% (95% CI: 99.0–100.3) in indigenous Chinese, 98.0% (95% CI: 96.4–99.6) in indigenous Koreans, 33.3% (95% CI: 28.0–38.7) in Koreans living in Japan, and 20.4% (95% CI: 15.8–25.0) in indigenous Japanese persons. The overall anti-HAV prevalence was not significantly different between northeastern China and South Korea, but it was different in Japan.
Conclusions
These results indicate that differences in seroprevalence can be attributed to geological, environmental, and socioeconomic conditions rather than ethnicity.

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Gabriela Henrykowska, Kornelia Kotecka, Aleksandra Jabłkowska, Andrzej Buczyński, Joanna Woźny
Polish Hyperbaric Research.2021; 76(3): 67. CrossRef
Sero-prevalence of viral hepatitis A in a district of Sri Lanka: a community based cross-sectional study
Nalin Ariyarathna, Chrishantha Abeysena
BMC Infectious Diseases.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A among Children and Young Adults Residing in Tehran, Iran: Implication for HAV Vaccination
Amitis Ramezani, Mohammad Reza Aghasadeghi, Setareh Mamishi, Shahram Sabeti, Farahnaz Bidari - Zerehpoosh, Mohammad Banifazl, Anahita Bavand, Sahar Shadanlou, Arezoo Aghakhani
Hepatitis Monthly.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis Viruses and Hepatitis B Genotypes of Female Marriage Immigrants in Korea
Jae-Cheol Kwon, Hye Young Chang, Oh Young Kwon, Ji Hoon Park, In Soo Oh, Hyung Joon Kim, Jun Hyung Lee, Ha-Jung Roh, Hyun Woong Lee
Yonsei Medical Journal.2018; 59(9): 1072. CrossRef
Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and Hepatitis A Virus among Children in Rural Central Taiwan
Meng-Che Wu, Chia-Hsing Sung, Yu-Chuan Chang, Chi-Lin Ho, Chih-Chiang Wu, Kuei-Hua Wu, Chun-Yi Lee, Kuen-Der Yang
Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases.2015; 68(6): 494. CrossRef

Original Article

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A and E Viruses Based on the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey in Korea: Haesun Yun, Hyeok-Jin Lee, Doosung Cheon, Chaeshin Chu, Kyung Won Oh, Young Taek Kim, Youngmee Jee; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2011;2(1):46-50. Published online June 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2011.04.009

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Abstract PDF

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Korea during 2005.
Methods
Study subjects were selected from across Korea using a stratified multistage probability sampling design, and HAV and HEV seroprevalence was compared on the basis of sex, age, and residency. A total of 497 rural and urban people aged 10–99 years of age (mean ± SD age = 28.87 ± 17.63 years) were selected by two-stage cluster sampling and tested serologically for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
Among this population, the overall seroprevalence of HAV was 63.80% (55.21% aged in their 20s and 95.92% in their 30s, p < 0.01) and that of HEV was 9.40% (5.21% aged in their 20s and 7.14% in their 30s, p < 0.01). Seroprevalence also varied according to area of residence. HEV prevalence in rural areas was higher than that of urban regions based on the anti-HEV antibody, odds ratio 3.22 (95% confidence interval: 1.46–7.10, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between male and female against anti-HAV/HEV antibodies.
Conclusion
Our study suggested that the seropositive rates of HAV and HEV might be related to age and environmental conditions.

Citations

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Factors associated with anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin G seropositivity among Korean workers: a cross-sectional study
Eunchan Mun, Yesung Lee, Byungseong Suh, Wonsul Kim, Jinsook Jeong, Hwanjin Park, Woncheol Lee, Boksoon Han, Soyoung Park, Changhwan Lee
BMJ Open.2020; 10(6): e036727. CrossRef
Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis E virus infection among the Korean, Manchu, Mongol, and Han ethnic groups in Eastern and Northeastern China
Yanan Cai, Si-Yuan Qin, Aidong Qian, Peng Xu, Ying-Tian Xu, Lin-Hong Xie, Quan Zhao, Xiao-Xuan Zhang
Journal of Medical Virology.2017; 89(11): 1988. CrossRef
Hepatitis E virus exposure in pregnant women in rural Durango, Mexico
Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel, Luis F. Sánchez-Anguiano, Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
Annals of Hepatology.2014; 13(5): 510. CrossRef
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A Systematic Review of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Children
V. P. Verghese, J. L. Robinson
Clinical Infectious Diseases.2014; 59(5): 689. CrossRef
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Seroprevalence in the general population of the Republic of Korea in 2007–2009: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Youngsil Yoon, Hye Sook Jeong, Haesun Yun, Hyeokjin Lee, Yoo-Sung Hwang, Bohyun Park, Chae Jin Lee, Sangwon Lee, Ji-Yeon Hyeon
BMC Infectious Diseases.2014;[Epub] CrossRef
The Road Less Traveled
Chaeshin Chu
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2011; 2(1): 1. CrossRef

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