Epidemiology of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E Based on Laboratory Surveillance Data—India, 2014–2017

Manoj V. Murhekar National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by Manoj V. Murhekar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
M. Ashok National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by M. Ashok in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
K. Kanagasabai National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by K. Kanagasabai in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Vasna Joshua National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by Vasna Joshua in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
M. Ravi National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by M. Ravi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
R. Sabarinathan National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by R. Sabarinathan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
B. K. Kirubakaran National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by B. K. Kirubakaran in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
V. Ramachandran National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by V. Ramachandran in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Vishal Shete National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India;

Search for other papers by Vishal Shete in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Nivedita Gupta Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India

Search for other papers by Nivedita Gupta in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Sanjay M. Mehendale Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India

Search for other papers by Sanjay M. Mehendale in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0232
Volume/Issue:
Volume 99: Issue 4
Page(s):
1058–1061
Restricted access
Get Permissions

Hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses (HAV and HEV) are the most common etiologies of viral hepatitis in India. To better understand the epidemiology of these infections, laboratory surveillance data generated during 2014–2017, by a network of 51 virology laboratories, were analyzed. Among 24,000 patients tested for both HAV and HEV, 3,017 (12.6%) tested positive for HAV, 3,865 (16.1%) for HEV, and 320 (1.3%) for both HAV and HEV. Most (74.6%) HAV patients were aged ≤ 19 years, whereas 76.9% of HEV patients were aged ≥ 20 years. These laboratories diagnosed 12 HAV and 31 HEV clusters, highlighting the need for provision of safe drinking water and improvements in sanitation. Further expansion of the laboratory network and continued surveillance will provide data necessary for informed decision-making regarding introduction of hepatitis-A vaccine into the immunization program.

    • Supplemental Materials (PDF 155 KB)

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Manoj V. Murhekar, National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Ayapakkam, Ambattur, Chennai 600077, India. E-mail: mmurhekar@gmail.com

Financial support: The work was supported by the extramural grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Govt of India.

Authors’ addresses: Manoj V. Murhekar, M. Ashok, K. Kanagasabai, Vasna Joshua, M. Ravi, R. Sabarinathan, B. K. Kirubakaran, V. Ramachandran, and Vishal Shete, National Institute of Epidemiology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India, E-mails: mmurhekar@gmail.com, ashokmphdns@gmail.com, sabaiicmr@hotmail.com, vasnajoshua@yahoo.com, mravimcm@hotmail.com, sabari193@gmail.com, bkkirubakaran@hotmail.com, rammathi@gmail.com, and vishalshete94@gmail.com. Nivedita Gupta and Sanjay M. Mehendale, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India, E-mails: drguptanivedita@gmail.com and sanmadmehendale@gmail.com.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2018
Received:
19 Mar 2018
|
Accepted:
19 Jul 2018
|
Published Online:
04 Sep 2018
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
  • 1.

    Satsangi S, Chawla YK, 2016. Viral hepatitis: Indian scenario. Med J Armed Forces India 72: 204–210.

  • 2.

    WHO, 2010. The Global Prevalence of Hepatitis A Virus Infection and Susceptibility: A Systematic Review. Available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70180/1/WHO_IVB_10.01_eng.pdf. Accessed May 29, 2018.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 3.

    Aggarwal R, Goel A, 2015. Hepatitis A: epidemiology in resource-poor countries. Curr Opin Infect Dis 28: 488–496.

  • 4.

    Mathur P, Arora NK, 2008. Epidemiological transition of hepatitis A in India: issues for vaccination in developing countries. Indian J Med Res 128: 699–704.

  • 5.

    Kumar T, Shrivastava A, Kumar A, Laserson KF, Narain JP, Venkatesh S, Chauhan LS, Averhoff F, 2015. Viral hepatitis surveillance–India, 2011–2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 64: 758–762.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 6.

    Joshua V, Murhekar MV, Ashok M, Kanagasabai K, Ravi M, Sabarinathan R, Kirubakaran BK, Ramachandran V, Gupta N, Mehendale S, 2016. Mapping dengue cases through a national network of laboratories, 2014–15. Indian J Med Res 144: 938–941.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7.

    WHO, 2010. The Global Prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection and Susceptibility: A Systematic Review. Available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70513/1/WHO_IVB_10.14_eng.pdf.

    • PubMed
    • Export Citation
  • 8.

    Jain P, Prakash S, Gupta S, Singh KP, Shrivastava S, Singh DD, Singh J, 2013. Prevalence of hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, hepatitis D virus and hepatitis E virus as causes of acute viral hepatitis in north India: a hospital based study. Indian J Med Microbiol 31: 261–265.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 9.

    Chadha MS, Walimbe AM, Chobe LP, Arankalle VA, 2003. Comparison of etiology of sporadic acute and fulminant viral hepatitis in hospitalized patients in Pune, India during 1978–81 and 1994–97. Indian J Gastroenterol 22: 11–15.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 10.

    Talukdar AJ, Islam S, Kashyap P, Dutta S, 2016. Sporadic adult acute viral hepatitis in northeast India is predominantly hepatitis A virus related. Indian J Gastroenterol 35: 401–402.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11.

    Nandi B, Hadimani P, Arunachalam R, Ganjoo RK, 2009. Spectrum of acute viral hepatitis in southern India. Med J Armed Forces India 65: 7–9.

  • 12.

    Raveendran S, Rakesh PS, Dev S, Vijayakumar N, Prasannakumar P, 2016. Investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis a in a coastal area, Kerala, southern India. J Prim Care Community Health 7: 288–290.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 13.

    Chobe LP, Arankalle VA, 2009. Investigation of a hepatitis A outbreak from Shimla Himachal Pradesh. Indian J Med Res 130: 179–184.

  • 14.

    Chadha MS, Lole KS, Bora MH, Arankalle VA, 2009. Outbreaks of hepatitis A among children in western India. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 103: 911–916.

  • 15.

    Sowmyanarayanan TV, Mukhopadhya A, Gladstone BP, Sarkar R, Kang G, 2008. Investigation of a hepatitis A outbreak in children in an urban slum in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, using geographic information systems. Indian J Med Res 128: 32–37.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 562 407 35
Full Text Views 822 37 1
PDF Downloads 416 23 1
 
 
 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save