Prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies in Central-Eastern Poland – a comparative study (1990-2012)

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an hepatotropic human picornavirus that is associated only with acute infection of liver. This pathogen is mainly transmitted through the faecal-oral route, by person-to-person contact, and also contaminated drinking water and food. This reserach presenting the comparative seroepidemiological study (1990/1999/2012) on HAV infection was carried out in population from south-eastern Poland. Anti-HAV was tested in 613 subjects from 0 to over 60 years of age and the results were compared with those observed in 1990 and 1989/99. We also analyzed the number of vaccinations in the past decade and their role in preventing disease.