• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.17-21
• /
• 2014

The prevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in a certain community reflects that community's living standard and hygienic condition. The seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV has been changing with regions and times. In this study, we aimed to study the difference of seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV according to sex, age and type of drinking water, and to know the vaccination rate and seroconversion rate for vaccinated subjects in Busan. A total of 644 samples were analyzed. The overall seroprevalence rate of IgG anti-HAV was 35.4% (228/644). There was no significant difference in sex (male 39.8%, female 32.7) (p>0.05). According to age, seroprevalence rate of anti-HAV were 55.0% in subjects aged 5~9 years old, 47.8% in 10~14 years old, decreced to 10.6% in 15~19 years old, 1.0% in 20~24 years old, 0.0% in 25~29 years old and increced with advacing ages ; 14.7% in 30~34 years old, 39.4% in 35~39 years old, 67.3% in 40~44 years old, 94.1% in 45~49 years old, 100.0% over 50 years (p<0.001). The seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV was no statistical difference according to the types of drinking water (p>0.05). The vaccinated subject was 42 case only in below 25 years old. The seroconversion rate after vaccination was 88.1%.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.15.1-15.5
• /
• 2023

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) induces severe acute liver injury and is adapted to human and monkey cell lines but not other cells. In this study, the HAV was inoculated into porcine kidney (PK-15) cells to determine its infectivity in porcine cells. The growth pattern of the HAV in PK-15 cells was compared with its growth pattern in fetal rhesus kidney (FRhK-4) cells. The growth of HAV was less efficient in PK-15 cells. In conclusion, HAV replication was verified in PK-15 cells for the first time. Further investigations will be needed to identify the HAV-restrictive mechanisms in PK-15 cells.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.67-73
• /
• 2001

A validation study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of the cryo-precipitation, monoclonal anti-FVIIIc antibody (mAb) chromatography, Q-Sepharose chromatography, and lyophilization steps involved in the manufacture of high purity factor VIII (GreenMono) from human plasma, in the removal and/or inactivation of hepatitis A virus (HAV). Samples from the relevant stages of the production process were spiked with HAV and subjected to scale-down processes mimicking the manufacture of the high purity factor VIII concentrate. Samples were collected at each step and immediately titrated using a 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID$\_$50/) and then the virus reduction factors were evaluated. HAV was effectively partitioned from factor VⅢ during cryo-precipitation with the log reduction factor of 3.2. The mAb chromatography was the most effective step far removal of HAV with the log reduction factor of $\geq$4.3. HAV infectivity was not detected in the fraction of factor VⅢ, while most of HAV infectivity was recovered in the fractions of flow through and wash during mAb chromatography. Q-Sepharose chromatography showed the lowest efficacy for partitioning HAV with the log reduction factor of 0.7. Lyophilization was an effective step in inactivating HAV with the log reduction factor of 2.3. The cumulative lag reduction factor, $\geq$10.5, achieved for tile entire manufacturing process was several magnitudes greater than the potential HAV load of current plasma pools.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.102-107
• /
• 2013

Hepatitis A (HA) is an acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). In acute HA, the presence of anti-HAV IgM is detectable and about 3 weeks after exposure, its titre increases over 4 to 6 weeks. Anti-HAV IgG is detectable within a few days of the onset of symptoms. IgG antibodies continue to last for years after infection and provide lifelong immunity to the host. This study was performed to investigate the current seroprevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in Jeonbuk province, South Korea. A total of 591 (male 322, female 269) serum samples were collected in July 2011 to June 2012. We tested the antibodies of anti-HAV IgG and IgM using a Modular E170 (Roche Diagnostics, Germany), and analysed the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by HITACH 7600-100 (HITACH, Japan). The overall seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG was 84.6% (500/591), and the rate of females (85.9%) was higher than males (83.5%). According to the decade of age, seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG were as follows; 68.8% (11/16) in the under 10 years old category, 100% (19/19) in the 10~19 category, 96% (48/50) in the 20~29 category, 83.6% (56/67) in the 30~39 category, 84.3% (123/146) in the 40~49 category, 83.3% (135/162) in the 50~59 category, 83.1% (54/65) in the 60~69 category, 78.1% (32/41) in the 70~79 category, and 88% (22/25) in the over 80 category. Total seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgM was 3.4% (20/591), and according to gender, the seroprevalence of male (3.1%) was very similar to that of female (3.7%). Through this study, we know that the seroprevalence of anti-HAV antibody in north-west Jeonbuk province, South Korea, was high. Only children under the age of 10 remain susceptible to HAV infection. Vaccination against HAV is not needed at the present time for the people of Jeonbuk province, South Korea, but a vaccination should be recommended and the improvement in sanitary conditions and personal hygiene should be highlighted.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.1398-1403
• /
• 2016

The simultaneous detection and accurate identification of hepatitis A virus (HAV) is critical in food safety and epidemiological studies to prevent the spread of HAV outbreaks. Towards this goal, a one-step duplex reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR method was developed targeting the VP1/P2B and VP3/VP1 regions of the HAV genome for the qualitative detection of HAV. An HAV RT-qPCR standard curve was produced for the quantification of HAV RNA. The detection limit of the duplex RT-PCR method was 2.8 × 10¹ copies of HAV. The PCR products enabled HAV genotyping analysis through DNA sequencing, which can be applied for epidemiological investigations. The ability of this duplex RT-PCR method to detect HAV was evaluated with HAV-spiked samples of fresh lettuce, frozen strawberries, and oysters. The limit of detection of the one-step duplex RT-PCR for each food model was 9.4 × 10² copies/20 g fresh lettuce, 9.7 × 10³ copies/20 g frozen strawberries, and 4.1 × 10³ copies/1.5 g oysters. Use of a one-step duplex RT-PCR method has advantages such as shorter time, decreased cost, and decreased labor owing to the single amplification reaction instead of four amplifications necessary for nested RT-PCR.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.65-68
• /
• 2004

The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy and mechanism of fraction IV cold ethanol fractionation and pasteurization (60$^{\circ}C$ heat treatment for 10 h), involved in the manufacture of albumin from human plasma, in the removal and/or inactivation of the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Samples from the relevant stages of the production process were spiked with HAV and the amount of virus in each fraction then quantified using a 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID$\_$50/). HAV was effectively partitioned from albumin during the fraction IV cold ethanol fractionation with a log reduction factor of 3.43. Pasteurization was also found to be a robust and effective step in inactivating HAV, where the titers were reduced from an initial titer of 7.60 log TCID$\_$50/ to undetectable levels within 5 h of treatment. The log reduction factor achieved during pasteurization was $\geq$4.76. Therefore, the current results indicate that the production process for albumin has sufficient HAV reducing capacity to achieve a high margin of virus safety.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.386-392
• /
• 1999

A large-scale culture of hepatitis A virus in human diploid MRC-5 cells was conducted. In a roller bottle culture, the virus was grown to a maximum titer in 3 weeks after infection. Over 95％ of the cell-associated virus was excreted after culturing the infected cells in suspension media without fetal bovine serum for 3 days. The cultured virus was inactivated with formalin, concentrated by ultrafiltration, and partially purified by ultracentrifugation in a non-ionic gradient medium of Renocal. Two separate peak fractions showing high anti-HAY ELISA titer were pooled and about 40％ of HAV antigen was recovered by this purification procedure. Of the partially purified vaccine, the protein pattern in SDS-PAGE and immunogenicity in mice were compared with a commercial HAV vaccine. In SDS-PAGE, the purified vaccine in this study and the commercial vaccine showed almost the same protein pattern. The seroconversion rate of the purified vaccine in mice was not different from that of the commercial vaccine. Therefore, we could prepare a good grade of HAV vaccine by a simple purification procedure although the purification itself was not completed.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.320-325
• /
• 2012

Rotavirus and hepatitis A virus (HAV) spread by the fecal-oral route and infections are important in public health, especially in developing countries. Here, two antigenic epitopes of the HAV polyprotein, domain 2 (D2) and domain 3 (D3), were recombined with rotavirus VP7, generating D2/VP7 and D3/VP7, cloned in a baculovirus expression system, and expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) insect cells. All were highly expressed, with peak expression 2 days post-infection. Western blotting and ELISA revealed that two chimeric proteins were antigenic, but only D2/VP7 was immunogenic and elicited neutralizing antibody responses against rotavirus and HAV by neutralization assay, implicating D2/VP7 as a multivalent subunit-vaccine Candidate for preventing both rotavirus and HAV infections.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.210-215
• /
• 2012

Hepatitis virus infection is one of the major problems in Korea. To establish preventive measures for hepatitis A and B virus infection, study on sero-positivity of serum anti-HAV (aHAV) and anti-HBs (aHBs) is needed. The aim of this study was to analyze the sero-positivity and related factors of aHAV and aHBs. We analysed the sero-positivity of serum aHAV and aHBs using ICA (Immunochromatography Assay) method from 102 university students and employees and questionnaire survey was obtained characteristics, vaccination history, past history test, knowledge and information sources of the study subjects. Overall sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV and aHBs were 20.6% and 52.9%, respectively. The sero-positivity rate of aHBs was significantly different by gender (M, 34.9%; F,66.1%) and that of aHAV was significantly different by age (20 age group, 2.7%; 30 age group, 14.3%; 40 age group, 70%; 50 age group, 91.7%). Overall sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV and aHBs by vaccination history rates were 4.9% and 43.1%, respectively. Overall sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV and aHBs by past history test were 10.8% and 52.9%, respectively. Sero-positivity rates of serum aHAV was low in university students. The results of this study could be used effectively as a basic data for establishing effective preventive measures for hepatitis A including vaccination.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.370-375
• /
• 2021

Objectives: The number of cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections has sharply increased in Korea, especially among young adults. In this study, an HAV outbreak in a facility for disabled people was investigated, and we found epidemiological differences both between 2 different generations and between generally abled and disabled groups. Methods: We analyzed the incubation period and attack rate of an HAV outbreak and investigated the prevalence of HAV antibodies among the staff and residents of a facility for the disabled. We performed a retrospective cohort study during the HAV outbreak, which lasted from February 8 to 25, 2019, including examinations of HAV antibody tests and post-exposure HAV vaccination for the staff or residents of the facility. Results: There were 9 confirmed cases in 2 staff members and 7 residents. Among 53 people (30 staff and 23 residents), except for the 9 confirmed cases and 1 staff member with a known history of HAV infection, HAV seroprevalence was seen in 16.7% of the staff under 40 years of age and 95.2% of those over 40 years of age, while the corresponding rates in the residents were 0.0% and 58.8%, respectively. Conclusions: This result implies that it is necessary to prioritize HAV vaccination for vulnerable groups and workers of residential care facilities.