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Epidemiological survey and follow‐up of transfusion‐transmitted virus after an outbreak of enterically transmitted infection
Author(s) -
Kang-Xian,
Weifang,
Lian,
Zhiying
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2000.00231.x
Subject(s) - outbreak , asymptomatic , feces , asymptomatic carrier , epidemiology , incidence (geometry) , medicine , virology , virus , caliciviridae , norovirus , veterinary medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , optics
An outbreak of enterically transmitted hepatitis occurred during 1996 among students at a vocational school. Viral fragments homologous to transfusion‐transmitted virus (TTV) were detected in faeces. To elucidate the endemic status, an epidemiological survey and case follow‐up after the outbreak were carried out. During and after the outbreak, virus carriers among staff were, respectively, 32.1% and 31.3% in serum, and 24.6% and 18.2% in faeces. After the last outbreak, attacks were still occurring among new students with an incidence of 2.4% in 1997 and 2.3% in 1998. There was also a small‐scale outbreak in 1998 with a prevalence of 17.9%. On follow‐up at 6 and 18 months after onset, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation was found in 29.7% and 13.9% of patients. At 6 months, viral fragments were detected in serum in 78.1% and 46.7% of patients, with and without ALT elevation, respectively. At 18 months the corresponding figures were 55.6% and 19.2%, respectively. At the 18‐month follow‐up, viral fragments were detected in faeces in 29.6% and 19.3% of patients with and without ALT elevation. In conclusion, this disease might be transmitted from asymptomatic virus carriers. According to the laboratory data, both parenteral and non‐parenteral transmissions are involved, and the faecal–oral route might be more important.