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An outbreak of hepatitis A among homosexuals linked to a family outbreak

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2002

K. STENE-JOHANSEN ,
P. A. JENUM ,
T. HOEL ,
H. BLYSTAD ,
H. SUNDE  and
K. SKAUG
K. STENE-JOHANSEN
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
P. A. JENUM
Affiliation:
Fürst Medical Laboratory, Oslo, Norway Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
T. HOEL
Affiliation:
Department of Vaccination, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
H. BLYSTAD
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
H. SUNDE
Affiliation:
Hedmark Central Hospital, Elverum, Norway
K. SKAUG
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Abstract

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Several outbreaks of hepatitis A occurred in Norway in 1995–8. Molecular epidemiology was used to follow the spread of hepatitis A virus in the population. Distinct strains of hepatitis A virus (HAV) were detected by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and subsequent sequencing in serum from patients in different communities at risk of infection. Two HAV strains were detected in an outbreak among 26 men having sexual contact with other men. One of these strains was also detected in a geographically limited family outbreak. The family outbreak was first believed to be acquired abroad. The sequence information linked the two outbreaks, and epidemiological and serological analyses revealed the transmission route. This study demonstrates the importance of molecular epidemiology in outbreak investigation, surveillance and monitoring of hepatitis A in the population.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 129 , Issue 1 , August 2002 , pp. 113 - 117
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press