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Hepatitis A and E Virus Infections among Children in Mongolia

To compare the epidemiologic profiles of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in children in Mongolia, the prevalence of HAV and HEV infections was studied serologically and molecularly among 520 apparently healthy children 7–12 years of age (mean ± standard deviation, 8.5 ± 0.8 years) using serum samples obtained in 2004. Total antibody against HAV (anti-HAV) was detected in 438 children (84.2%), whereas IgG antibody against HEV (anti-HEV IgG) was detected in only three subjects (0.6%). All three subjects with anti-HEV IgG were negative for anti-HEV IgM and HEV RNA. The presence of HAV RNA was tested in all 520 subjects, and one child (9-year-old girl) was found to have detectable HAV RNA (subgenotype IA). In conclusion, HEV infection was uncommon, but subclinical HAV infection was highly prevalent among children in Mongolia.

Received January 3, 2009. Accepted for publication March 28, 2009.

Acknowledgments: We thank the study participants, field staff, school teachers, nurses, and health sector personnel in each study area for cooperation and support. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) assisted with publication expenses.

^* Address correspondence to Dambadarjaa Davaalkham, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Health Sciences University of Mongolia, PO Box 111, Ulaanbaatar 48, Mongolia. E-mail: davaalkham{at}hsum.edu.mn

Authors’ addresses: Dambadarjaa Davaalkham and Tsogzolbaatar Enkhoyun, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Health Sciences of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Masaharu Takahashi and Hiroaki Okamoto, Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan. Yosikazu Nakamura, Department of Public Health, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.