Epidemiological and molecular investigation of a hepatitis A outbreak in Tamil Nadu, Southern India

Authors

  • Rajamani Barathidasan Regional level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Deparment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Gorimedu, India
  • Kandasamy Vanathy Department of Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, India
  • Kaliaperumal Venkatesh Regional level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Deparment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Gorimedu, India
  • Ferdina Marie Sharmila Regional level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Deparment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Gorimedu, India
  • Rahul Dhodapkar Regional level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Deparment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Gorimedu, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.12045

Keywords:

Hepatitis, outbreak, HAV, India, sequencing, genotype

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis A virus causes an acute infection mainly in young children. The present study was carried out to characterize the nature of hepatitis A virus (HAV) involved in an outbreak of jaundice in children.

Methodology: Serum and stool samples from five children were sampled from among 26 clinically diagnosed jaundice cases. HAV IgM ELISA and PCR were used for confirmatory diagnosis and molecular characterization by direct amplicon sequencing and analysis.

Results: All the serum samples collected from the symptomatic cases were found to be positive for Anti-HAV IgM ELISA as were all the serum samples and stool samples using semi-nested PCR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the HAV involved in the outbreak belonged to genotype IIIA.

Conclusions: The infection was caused by HAV genotype IIIA. Improved access to clean drinking water, sanitation around drinking water sources and routine chlorination of drinking water in poor and developing countries are needed, as well as childhood HAV vaccination under regular immunization programs in endemic countries.

Author Biographies

Rajamani Barathidasan, Regional level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Deparment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Gorimedu, India

Research Scientist

Kandasamy Vanathy, Department of Microbiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, India

Assistant Professor

Ferdina Marie Sharmila, Regional level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Deparment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Gorimedu, India

Research Scientist

Rahul Dhodapkar, Regional level Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Deparment of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Gorimedu, India

Associate Professor and Incharge Virology Laboratory

Department of Microbiology

 

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Published

2020-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Barathidasan R, Vanathy K, Venkatesh K, Sharmila FM, Dhodapkar R (2020) Epidemiological and molecular investigation of a hepatitis A outbreak in Tamil Nadu, Southern India. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:1475–1479. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12045

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 12: December 2020

Section

Brief Original Articles

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