Persistence of immunity against hepatitis A in Brazilian children vaccinated with a single dose of inactivated virus vaccine.

In 2014, the Brazilian National Immunization Program implemented the universal vaccination against the hepatitis A virus (HAV) for children aged 12 months and older, applying a single dose of the inactivated virus vaccine. It is essential to carry out follow-up studies in this population, aiming to verify the longevity of HAV immunological memory. This study evaluated the humoral and cellular immune response of a cohort of children vaccinated between 2014 and 2015, and further investigated between 2015 and 2016, and who had their initial antibody response assessed after the single dose. A second evaluation took place in January 2022. We examined 109 children out of the 252 that took part in the initial cohort. Seventy (64.2%) of them had anti-HAV IgG antibodies. Cellular immune response assays were performed in 37 anti-HAV-negative and 30 anti-HAV-positive children. Production of interferon-gamma (IFN-y) stimulated with the VP1 antigen was demonstrated in 34.3% of these 67 samples. Of the 37 negative anti-HAV samples, 12 (32.4%) produced IFN-y. Among the 30 anti-HAV-positive, 11 (36.7%) produced IFN-y. In total, 82 (76.6%) children presented some type of immune response against HAV. These findings demonstrate the persistence of immunological memory against HAV in the majority of children vaccinated between 6 and 7 years with a single dose of the inactivated virus vaccine.

Choosing wisely recommendations regarding the top five list of procedures to avoid in the treatment of viral hepatitis: A position statement from the Brazilian Society of Hepatology endorsed by the Latin American Association for the Study of the liver.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The Choosing Wisely (CW) initiative aims to improve daily practice supported by evidence concerning unnecessary medical tests, procedures, and treatments. This philosophy is essential in managing viral hepatitis (VH), which primary care physicians increasingly carry out. It is also essential to achieving disease elimination. Thus, the aim of our study was to propose evidence-based CW recommendations in VH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Brazilian Society of Hepatology (SBH) formed a panel of experts in VH who selected evidence-based CW recommendations, which were subsequently scrutinized and ranked by all members of SBH using a web-based approach. RESULTS: Five recommendations were chosen in order of importance: 1) do not order anti-HCV testing after achieving sustained virological response; 2) do not request serial HCV viral load to evaluate HCV progression, 3) do not add ribavirin to direct-acting antivirals in non-cirrhotic, naïve HCV patients; 4) do not screen for hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV patients with none to moderate fibrosis (≤ F2); 5) do not request anti-HBs after HBV vaccination, except for children born to HBV-infected mothers, hemodialysis patients, healthcare professionals, people who have had sexual contact with chronic HBV carriers, HIV-positive persons and immunocompromised individuals (hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients or persons receiving chemotherapy). CONCLUSIONS: CW recommendations may help general practitioners adopt a more rational and cost-effective approach in managing patients with VH in Brazil and Latin America, leading to lesser waste or harm to patients.

Increased frequency of micronuclei in the lymphocytes of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus.

In this study, we analysed the frequency of micronuclei (MN), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) and nuclear buds (NBUDs) and evaluated mutagen-induced sensitivity in the lymphocytes of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). In total, 49 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (28 HBV-infected and 21 HCV-infected patients) and 33 healthy, non-infected blood donor controls were investigated. The frequencies (‰) of MN, NPBs and NBUDs in the controls were 4.41 ± 2.15, 1.15 ± 0.97 and 2.98 ± 1.31, respectively. The frequencies of MN and NPBs were significantly increased (p < 0.0001) in the patient group (7.01 ± 3.23 and 2.76 ± 2.08, respectively) compared with the control group. When considered separately, the HBV-infected patients (7.18 ± 3.57) and HCV-infected patients (3.27 ± 2.40) each had greater numbers of MN than did the controls (p < 0.0001). The HCV-infected patients displayed high numbers of NPBs (2.09 ± 1.33) and NBUDs (4.38 ± 3.28), but only the HBV-infected patients exhibited a significant difference (NPBs = 3.27 ± 2.40, p < 0.0001 and NBUDs = 4.71 ± 2.79, p = 0.03) in comparison with the controls. Similar results were obtained for males, but not for females, when all patients or the HBV-infected group was compared with the controls. The lymphocytes of the infected patients did not exhibit sensitivity to mutagen in comparison with the lymphocytes of the controls (p = 0.06). These results showed that the lymphocytes of patients who were chronically infected with HBV or HCV presented greater chromosomal instability.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection among injecting drug users in the Central-West Region of Brazil.

The prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was investigated in 149 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative injecting drug users (IDUs) in the Central-West Region of Brazil. Of these individuals, 19 were positive for HBV DNA, resulting in an occult HBV infection prevalence of 12.7% (19/149); six of these 19 individuals had anti-HBV core and/or anti-HBV surface antibodies and 13 were negative for HBV markers. All IDUs with occult hepatitis B reported sexual and/or parenteral risk behaviours. All HBV DNA-positive samples were successfully genotyped. Genotype D was the most common (17/19), followed by genotype A (2/19). These findings reveal a high prevalence of occult HBV infection and the predominance of genotype D among IDUs in Brazil's Central-West Region.

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection in Inland Brazil: an analysis of pooled epidemiological sectional studies.

In order to assess the contribution of different parenteral routes as risk exposure to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), samples from nine surveys or cross-sectional studies conducted in two Brazilian inland regions were pooled, including a total of 3,910 subjects. Heterogeneity among the study results for different risk factors was tested and the results were shown to be homogeneous. Anti-HCV antibodies were observed in 241 individuals, of which 146 (3.7%, 95% CI = 3.2-4.4) had HCV exposure confirmed by immunoblot analysis or PCR test. After adjustment for relevant variables, a correlation between confirmed HCV exposure and injection drug use, tattooing, and advance age was observed. In a second logistic model that included exposures not searched in all nine studies, a smaller sample was analyzed, revealing an independent HCV association with past history of surgery and males who have sex with other males, in addition to repeated injection drug use. Overall, these analyses corroborate the finding that injection drug use is the main risk factor for HCV exposure and spread, in addition to other parenteral routes.

Assessment of the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in the state of Mato Grosso, central Brazil.

In Brazil, the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is funded by the national public health system (SUS). To evaluate treatment results in the state of Mato Grosso, central Brazil, we have consulted the files of the office of the State Department of Health responsible for supplying such medications. We obtained information on 232 treatments of 201 patients who underwent treatment in or prior to 2008. The study was conducted by reviewing medical records, making telephone calls and interviewing the assistant physicians. Thirty-nine patients (19.4%) had cirrhosis and HCV genotype 1 predominated (64.3%). Excluding patients with comorbidities or treatment without ribavirin we analysed 175 treatments (sustained virologic response occurred in 32.6% of cases). Twenty-six of these 175 were retreatments and the sustained virological response (SVR) rate among them was 30.8%; the SVR rate was 32.9% among those receiving treatment for the first time. The SVR rate of genotype 1 patients was 27.8%, whereas it was 37.5% in non-1 genotype patients. The adjusted multivariate analysis showed association of SVR with the absence of cirrhosis [odds ratio (OR): 7.7; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 2.5, 33.3], the use of pegylated interferon (OR: 5.8; CI 95%: 1.5, 21.4), non-1 genotype (OR: 5.3; CI 95%: 1.7, 16.7) and uninterrupted treatment (OR: 9.0; CI 95%: 3.3, 45.4). The SVR rates were similar to those found in other Brazilian studies about HCV, but lower than those found in national and international clinical trials. These data suggest that the treatments of chronic hepatitis C that are made available by SUS does not, under normal conditions, work as well as the original controlled studies indicated.

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies in individuals exposed to swine in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis E antibodies (anti-HEV) among individuals exposed to swine in the rural areas of the state of Mato Grosso (MT) in Brazil. The study included 310 participants who had an average age of 39 years. Fifty-one per cent of the participants were female and 26 (8.4%) were anti-HEV-positive. Concomitantly, we studied 101 blood donors from the urban area of the state capital who had never lived in a rural area or handled swine. Four per cent (4%) of these individuals were anti-HEV-positive (p = 0.206). When we compared the anti-HEV-positive participants who had been exposed to swine with the anti-HEV-negative participants, we noticed associations between the presence of anti-HEV and increased age, a history of blood transfusions and contact with other farm animals. However, after a multivariate analysis was performed, this association was not confirmed. Finally, the ratio of anti-HEV-positive individuals who had been exposed to swine in rural MT was similar to that found in previous studies in Brazil. This prevalence did not characterise this type of exposure as a risk factor for HEV infection in this region.

Declining prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibodies among children from low socioeconomic groups reinforces the need for the implementation of hepatitis A vaccination in Brazil.

Age-related seroprevalence studies that have been conducted in Brazil have indicated a transition from a high to a medium endemicity of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the population. However, most of these studies have focused on urban populations that experience lower incidence rates of HAV infection. In the current study, the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies was investigated in children with a low socioeconomic status (SES) that live on the periphery of three capital cities in Brazil. A total of 1,162 dried blood spot samples were collected from individuals whose ages ranged from one-18 years and tested for anti-HAV antibodies. A large number of children under five years old (74.1-90%) were identified to be susceptible to HAV infection. The anti-HAV antibody prevalence reached ≥ 50% among those that were 10-14 years of age or older. The anti-HAV prevalence rates observed were characteristics of regions with intermediate level of hepatitis A endemicity. These data indicated that a large proportion of children with a low SES that live at the periphery of urban cities might be at risk of contracting an HAV infection. The hepatitis A vaccine that is currently offered in Brazil is only available for high-risk groups or at private clinics and is unaffordable for individuals with a lower SES. The results from this study suggest that the hepatitis A vaccine should be included in the Brazilian National Program for Immunisation.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infection among leprosy patients in a leprosy-endemic region of central Brazil.

Leprosy and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly endemic in some regions of the state of Mato Grosso, in central Brazil. The association of leprosy with HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was assessed using a seroprevalence study and 191 leprosy outpatients were included. Demographic data and the clinical classification of leprosy were recorded. Evidence of previous HBV infection was present in 53 patients (27.7%, 95% confidence interval: 21.9-34.5) and two (1%) were HBsAg positive. Five (2.6%) had antibodies to HCV. The prevalence of previous exposure to HBV was higher than expected for an adult population in central Brazil. In contrast, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was not much higher regarding the age range of participants. HBV markers were associated with a higher number of sex partners and the use of injections without proper sterilisation of the syringes. The number of HBV carriers was small, suggesting that there was no increased likelihood of chronification among these patients.

Trends and spatial distribution of Hepatitis D in the North of Brazil, 2009-2018: an ecological study. / Tendências e distribuição espacial da hepatite D no Norte do Brasil, 2009-2018: um estudo ecológico.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the annual incidence of hepatitis D cases in both Brazil and the Brazilian Northern region between 2009 and 2018. METHODS: This was an ecological study of hepatitis cases notified on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (SINAN), analyzed by sex, age groups, and Northern region states. Temporal trend analysis was performed using the Prais-Winsten method to estimate incident rate annual percent change (APC). RESULTS: In the period studied, 2,710 cases were reported in Brazil, 74.5% of them in the Northern region and 71.5% in Amazonas, Acre and Rondonia alone. APC showed a downward trend in Brazil as a whole (-21.6% - 95%CI -3.8;-36.2%), in the Northern region (-28.5% - 95%CI -5.2;-46.1%,), in Amazonas (-34.1% - 95%CI -0.8;-56.2%) and in Acre (-37.6% - 95%CI -18.0;-52.6%). Cases decreased in age groups below 40 years old. CONCLUSION: There was a downward trend in incidence in the Western Amazon, impacting incidence in Brazil as a whole. This fall was led by younger people, probably due to hepatitis B vaccination.

Universal hepatitis A vaccination in Brazil: analysis of vaccination coverage and incidence five years after program implementation. / Vacinação universal contra hepatite A no Brasil: análise da cobertura vacinal e da incidência cinco anos após a implantação do programa.

INTRODUCTION: In 2014, Brazil introduced a universal immunization program against the hepatitis A virus (HAV) for children in the second year of life, using a single dose of inactivated virus vaccine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the vaccination coverage (VC) against HAV in Brazil, against the incidence of cases reported five years after the implementation of the program. METHODOLOGY: Secondary data were obtained by searching free access electronic sites of the Ministry of Health, Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde - DATASUS), for incidence analysis and VC from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: VC ranged from 60.13 to 97.07%. The homogeneity of VC against hepatitis A did not reach the established goal throughout all states but for a few exceptions. After 2015, CV decreased in all regions of the country. Despite insufficient coverage, a concomitant reduction in the incidence of Hepatitis A took place throughout the country. The incidence rate fell from 3.29 to 0.80/100,000 between 2014 and 2018. However, there was an interruption in the pace of incidence fall between 2017 and 2018, which may be a consequence of insufficient VC. This phenomenon seems to be part of a widespread downward trend in vaccination effort across the country, also verified for other vaccines, such as poliomyelitis and measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. CONCLUSION: These figures suggest the need for implementing efforts to improve hepatitis A VC rates in the country.

Syphilis in pregnant women and congenital syphilis: spatial pattern and relationship with social determinants of health in Mato Grosso.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing incidence of syphilis among pregnant women (PS) and congenital syphilis (CS) has negatively affected maternal-child health in Brazil. The spatial approach to diseases with social indicators improves knowledge of health situations. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the spatiotemporal distribution of incidences, identify the priority areas for infection control actions, and analyze the relationship of PS and CS clusters with social determinants of health in Mato Grosso. METHODS: This is an ecological study with data from different health information systems. After data procedure linkage, we analyzed the Bayesian incidences of triennial infections during specific periods. We performed SATSCAN screenings to identify spatiotemporal clusters. Further, we verified the differences between the clusters and indicators using Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: The variations in PS incidence were 0.9-20.5/1,000 live births (LB), 0.6-46.3/1,000 LB, and 2.1-23.2/1,000 LB in the first, second, and last triennium, respectively; for CS, the variations were 0-7.1/1,000 LB, 0-7.5/1,000 LB, and 0.3-10.8/1,000 LB in the first, second, and last triennium, respectively. Three clusters each were identified for PS (RR=2.02; RR=0.30; RR=21.45, p<0.0001) and CS (RR=3.55; RR=0.10; RR=0.26, p<0.0001). The high-risk clusters overlapped in time-space; CS incidence was associated with municipalities with a higher proportion of LB mothers of race/non-white color and with poor sanitary conditions, lower proportion of pregnant teenagers, and under 8 years of schooling. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in the spatiotemporal evolution of PS and CS incidences and the extension of areas with persistent infections indicate the need for monitoring, especially of priority areas in the state.

Expression of annexin-A1 in blood and tissue leukocytes of leprosy patients.

INTRODUCTION: In leprosy, immune system mediators that regulate the infectious process act in a complex manner and can lead to several clinical outcomes. To understand the behavior of these mediators we quantified the expression of annexin-A1 (ANXA1) in the peripheral blood and plasma as well as tissue leukocytes in all clinical forms of leprosy and compared with healthy controls. METHODS: Seventy healthy controls and 70 patients with leprosy, tuberculoid (TT) (n = 13), borderline tuberculoid (BT) (n = 15), borderline borderline (BB) (n = 13), borderline lepromatous (BL) (n = 15), and lepromatous leprosy (LL) (n = 14), were selected. Phenotyping of the lymphocyte cells and the intracellular expression of ANXA1 in leukocytes was performed by immunofluorescence. Plasma protein levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Histiocytes and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the skin of BL and LL patients had higher ANXA1 expression. ANXA1 expression was also high in circulating polymorphonuclear, monocytes, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood of LL patients compared to those of TT, BT, BB, and BL patients, and these levels were similar to those in healthy controls. Plasma ANXA1 levels indicate an increase in paracrine release in patients with LL. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicate that ANXA1 expression is enhanced in the leukocytes and plasma of patients with LL, and may contribute to the inhibition of leukocyte action, leading to inadequate functioning of the immune system and thus contributing to the spread of M. leprae infection.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and D virus infection in a district of Mato Grosso, bordering Amazonas and Rondônia states.

INTRODUCTION: Brazil's western Amazon basin has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the country. Coinfection with hepatitis D virus (HDV) is also endemic. To estimate the prevalence of HBV and HDV markers in a population inhabiting the northwest portion of Mato Grosso state in the western Amazon. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of the seroprevalence of antibodies against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) in the Três Fronteiras District northwest of Mato Grosso. Anti-HBc-positive subjects were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). Those positive for this marker were tested for HDV antibodies. Anti-HBc-negative participants were tested for anti-HBsAg. All tests were performed by EIA. RESULTS: A total of 623 individuals in the community were assessed; the majority (67.6%) were male, with a mean age of 30.8 ± 15.4 years. Two hundred and fourteen individuals (34.3%) were anti-HBc-positive, and 47 (7.5%) were HBsAg carriers. Only one individual was anti-HDV-positive. Among the 409 individuals without HBV infection, 18.3% were anti-HBsAg-positive. There was no association between HBV infection and known risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The study area had intermediate-to-high endemicity for HBV infection, but a low prevalence of HDV. Our serological results suggesting low vaccination-induced protection indicate a need for reinforced immunization programs in the populations of northwest Mato Grosso.

An autochthonous case of hepatitis C virus genotype 5a in Brazil: phylogenetic analysis.

Genotype 5 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been rarely identified in South America. A female of African descent who never left Brazil was found to be infected by this genotype in Mato Grosso state, Central Brazil. The patient denied drug injections and revealed that she had received blood transfusions several years before. One of her blood donors was identified and tested negative for anti-HCV and HCV RNA, as were her husband and offspring. Phylogenetic analysis of the E1 and NS5B regions confirmed that this HCV strain belonged to genotype 5a. However, the E1 region analysis indicates that our strain is not closely related to any sequences of genotype 5a from other geographical areas, diverging from the African and European subclades known so far. These data suggest that genotype 5a HCV might have been circulating at a low level in Brazil longer than previously supposed.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and associated factors among male illicit drug users in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Intravenous drug injection has been reported as the main risk factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence and the epidemiological profile of HCV infection among abusers of illegal injected and non-injected drugs in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil. A cross-sectional study including 314 male drug users from eight detoxification centres was performed. Out of 314 subjects studied, 48 (15.2%) were intravenous drug users. Participants were interviewed and had blood samples taken and tested for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies. Positive samples were tested for the presence of HCV RNA. Genotyping was performed on HCV RNA-positive samples. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was 6.4% (n = 20). Out of 20 anti-HCV antibody-positive subjects, 16 (80%) were also HCV RNA-positive. Genotype 1 predominated (75%), followed by 3a (25%). Subtype 1a was more common than 1b. HCV infection was more prevalent among intravenous drug users (33%) than non-injecting users (1.5%). Logistic regression analyses showed independent associations between HCV infection and intravenous drug use, imprisonment and increasing age. In the present study, injecting drug use was the factor most strongly associated to HCV infection and inhaling or sniffing did not represent an increased susceptibility to infection.

Impact of the single-dose universal mass vaccination strategy against hepatitis A in Brazil.

Universal vaccination of children against hepatitis A was introduced in 2014 in Brazil as a single-dose schedule. We analyzed the numbers of reported cases of hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) from 2010 to 2017 to evaluate the initial impact of that intervention. Data were assessed and has been freely available on the Brazilian Ministry of Health website. The HAV incidence was steady around 6000 cases per year until 2014. Between 2014 and 2016, there was a 85.5% cumulative drop, independent of gender and geographical macroregions. The fall was especially significant among toddlers (96.8%). In 2017, cases increased due to an outbreak among male adults in São Paulo. Decrease in incidence continued to occur for females and for those under 15 years of age. Data show that there was a significant decrease in HAV cases number in Brazil from 2015 after the introduction of single-dose HAV vaccine program.

Molecular epidemiology of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in two hospitals in Central Brazil: the role of ST730 and ST162 in clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: Acinetobacter baumannii is a major cause of multidrug-resistant nosocomial infections. The characteristics of A. baumannii at two hospitals in a city in Central Brazil are described by analysing the phenotypes and molecular profiles of isolates recovered from 87 patients. METHODOLOGY: The isolates were identified and their antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated using the the Bact/Alert 3D and Vitek2 methods. Patients' clinical data were obtained from medical files. Genes associated with resistance to carbapenems were analysed by multilocus sequence typing, clinical and bacteriological variables were analysed by descriptive statistics, and logistic models were generated to adjust the associations. RESULTS: Sixty-four (73.5 %) out of 87 A. baumannii isolates analysed were from patients in intensive care. The mortality rate was 43.7 %. Eighty (91.9 %) isolates were resistant to imipenem and 86 were susceptible to colistin (98.8 %). The blaOXA-23 gene (78.2 %) and its upstream insertion ISAba1 (55.2 %) were predominant, followed by blaOXA-24 (55.2 %) and blaOXA-143 (28.7 %). The blaOXA-23 gene and ISAba1 were independently associated with resistance to imipenem (P<0.05). There were 13 different sequence types (STs) among the 35 isolates. ST1 (nine; 25.7 %), ST162 (eight; 22.8 %) and ST730 (six; 17.1 %) were the most common, and four new STs were identified. The isolates were grouped into five clonal complexes (CC1, CC15, CC79, CC108 and CC162) plus a singleton using eburst. CONCLUSION: Respiratory infection, age >60 years and use of noradrenaline were factors associated with fatality. ST730 (CC79) was associated with higher mortality (P<0.05) and ST162 (CC162) was associated with increased survival probability (P<0.05).

Hepatitis C disease burden and strategies for elimination by 2030 in Brazil. A mathematical modeling approach.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Hepatitis C is a key challenge to public health in Brazil. The objective of this paper was to describe the Brazilian strategy for hepatitis C to meet the 2030 elimination goal proposed by World Health Organization (WHO). METHODS: A mathematical modeling approach was used to estimate the current HCV-infected Brazilian population, and to evaluate the relative costs of two different scenarios to address HCV disease burden in Brazil: (1) if no further changes are made to the HCV treatment program in Brazil; (2) where the WHO targets for 2030 elimination are met through diagnosis and treatment efforts peaking before 2024. RESULTS: An anti-HCV prevalence of 0.53% was calculated for the total population. It was estimated that the number of HCV-RNA+ individuals in Brazil in 2017 was 632,000 (0.31% of the population). Scale-up of treatment and diagnosis over time will be necessary in order to achieve WHO targets beginning in 2018. Direct costs (diagnostic, treatment and healthcare costs) are projected to increase significantly during the scale-up of treatment and diagnosis in the initial years of the intervention scenario, but then fall below the base case on an annual basis by 2025-2036, once HCV is eliminated, due to health sectors savings from the prevention of HCV liver-related morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSION: Achieving the WHO targets is technically feasible in Brazil with a scale-up of treatment and diagnosis over time, beginning in 2018. However, elimination of hepatitis C requires policy changes to substantially scale-up prevention, screening and treatment of HCV, together with public health advocacy to raise awareness among affected populations and healthcare providers.

Initial evaluation of universal immunization with a single dose against hepatitis A virus in Central Brazil.

Vaccination against the hepatitis A virus (HAV) administered in two doses has been used effectively in universal child immunization programs in several countries. A single-dose vaccination was adopted in some low-income countries in an attempt to reduce costs without losing effectiveness. In 2014, single-dose universal vaccination was introduced in Brazil for children aged two years. Since such strategy is still not universally accepted, its efficacy should be compared to the two-dose strategy. To assess the humoral response after the single-dose HAV vaccination schedule, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Primavera do Leste, in Mato Grosso state, Central Brazil, including 265 children vaccinated through the National Immunization Program. Blood was collected by using a digital puncture and further applied to filter paper cards. Anti-HAV was detected in 218 out of 265 dried blood spots (DBS). Blood venous samples were collected from 34 out of 47 children who were not anti-HAV positive in DBS samples. Eighteen of them tested positive for anti-HAV, giving a final score of 93.6% (236/252) of seropositivity. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a high rate of anti-HAV positivity in the short term after single-dose hepatitis A vaccination in the population investigated. Moreover, the DBS was shown to be a reliable tool for detecting anti-HAV antibodies.