Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and Hepatitis A Virus among Children in Rural Central Taiwan

Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus (HAV) are thought to have similar routes of transmission and epidemiology. This study investigated the seroprevalence of these 2 pathogens among children in rural, central Taiwan. Serum samples were collected from 856 children between 2010 and 2012 and levels of anti-HAY and anti-H. pylori antibodies were measured by ELISA. Questionnaires were used to investigate possible risk factors. The overall H. pylori and HAY infection rates were 6% and 0.8%, respectively. There was a significant difference in H. pylori infection rates (P value = 0.008), but not HAY infection rates, between different age groups. H. pylori infection rates were significantly higher in children whose mothers had lower education levels. In contrast, HAY infection rates were significantly higher in children whose fathers had lower education levels. The risk of HAY infection was also 14.20-fold higher in children whose family members had traveled to China or Southeast Asia. No significant correlation was found between H. pylori and HAY seropositivity. The seroprevalences of H. pylori and HAY were low in rural central Taiwan. Universal HAY vaccination is highly recommended to prevent outbreak due to low seroprevalence.