{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,1]],"date-time":"2025-10-01T15:50:41Z","timestamp":1759333841977,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":27,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,28]],"date-time":"2025-09-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1759017600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004351","name":"Sultan Qaboos University","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["CL\/SQU\/07\/01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CL\/SQU\/07\/01"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004351","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.mdpi.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis and a significant global health concern. This study provides a pre-vaccination baseline for Oman, enabling longitudinal comparison with post-hepatitis A vaccination cohorts. This study aimed to determine the pre-vaccination seroprevalence of HAV antibodies (anti-HAV) in Oman and explore the associated demographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2014 to August 2015 among patients attending the medical outpatient clinic of the Medical City Hospital for Military and Security Services. Demographic data were collected via a structured questionnaire, and serum samples were tested for anti-HAV immunoglobulin IgG and IgM using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the predictors of anti-HAV seroprevalence. Results: Among 1975 participants, 88.1% were positive for anti-HAV IgG. The mean age was 37.4 \u00b1 16.1 years; however, those negative for anti-HAV IgG were considerably younger (mean age: 24.8 \u00b1 15.7 years). Anti-HAV IgG seroprevalence was 37% in individuals aged \u226418 years and 91% in those &gt;18 years (p &lt; 0.001). The factors associated with seropositivity included older age (p &lt; 0.001), consuming food prepared outside the home (p &lt; 0.001), occupation (p &lt; 0.001), and education level (p = 0.003). In the multivariable analysis, only age showed a strong independent association with serostatus: per 10-year increase, the aOR for anti-HAV IgG seropositivity was 2.87 (95% CI 2.25\u20133.63; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Our study estimates show high anti-HAV IgG seroprevalence and serve as a pre-vaccination baseline for evaluating the hepatitis A vaccination program in Oman over time. Given the lower natural exposure among younger cohorts, continued routine vaccination, scheduled serosurveys, and strengthened surveillance are required to identify emerging immunity gaps and prevent future HAV outbreaks.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14196857","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,29]],"date-time":"2025-09-29T14:01:39Z","timestamp":1759154499000},"page":"6857","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A in Oman Prior to National Vaccination"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Halima","family":"Al Shuaili","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Medical City for Military and Security Services, Muscat 111, Oman"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3396-6894","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohamed","family":"El-Kassas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Endemic Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo 11795, Egypt"},{"name":"Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman 11937, Jordan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2892-266X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Khalid M.","family":"Al-Naamani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Medical City for Military and Security Services, Muscat 111, Oman"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zakaryia","family":"Al Muharrmi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, University Medical City, Muscat 123, Oman"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Muhannad","family":"Al-Kobaisi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Microbiology and Immunology Department, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat 123, Oman"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, March 15). The Immunological Basis for Immunization Series: Module 18\u2014Hepatitis A. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/97892516327."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1068","DOI":"10.1007\/s12072-021-10232-4","article-title":"The Global Trends and Regional Differences in Incidence and Mortality of Hepatitis A from 1990 to 2019 and Implications for its Prevention","volume":"15","author":"Cao","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hepatol. Int."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, March 15). Hepatitis A: Key Facts. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/hepatitis-a."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, March 15). WHO Position Paper on Hepatitis A Vaccines\u2014October 2022. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/who-wer9740-493-512."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, March 15). Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes: Global Health Sector Strategies 2022\u20132030. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/teams\/global-hiv-hepatitis-and-stis-programmes\/strategies\/global-health-sector-strategies."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Migueres, M., Lhomme, S., and Izopet, J. (2021). Hepatitis A: Epidemiology, High-Risk Groups, Prevention and Research on Antiviral Treatment. Viruses, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/v13101900"},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, March 15). The Global Prevalence of Hepatitis A Virus Infection and Susceptibility: A Systematic Review. Available online: https:\/\/iris.who.int\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/70180\/WHO_IVB_10.01_eng.pdf."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3710","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2021.1920871","article-title":"A review of the experience of childhood hepatitis A vaccination in Saudi Arabia and Turkey: Implications for hepatitis A control and prevention in the Middle East and North African region","volume":"17","author":"Badur","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5819","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-90525-y","article-title":"Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A virus infections among schoolchildren in Amran Governorate, Yemen","volume":"15","author":"Nomaan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2073146","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2022.2073146","article-title":"Hepatitis A in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A comprehensive review","volume":"18","author":"Badur","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Ministry of Health (2025, March 15). Hepatitis A Brochure, Available online: https:\/\/moh.gov.om\/en\/health-promotion\/health-awareness\/hepatitis-a\/."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105059","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcv.2021.105059","article-title":"Accuracy assessment of total or IgG Immunoglobulin to hepatitis A virus tests around immunity threshold","volume":"146","author":"Mouna","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Clin. Virol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7100","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2020.08.071","article-title":"Immunity to Hepatitis-A virus: A nationwide population-based seroprevalence study from Iran","volume":"38","author":"Lankarani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"380","article-title":"Characteristics of hepatitis B infection in a sample of omani patients","volume":"13","year":"2013","journal-title":"Sultan Qaboos Univ. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.4254\/wjh.v4.i3.68","article-title":"Hepatitis A: Epidemiology and prevention in developing countries","volume":"4","author":"Franco","year":"2012","journal-title":"World J. Hepatol."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"300","article-title":"The epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Qatar","volume":"20","author":"Bener","year":"2009","journal-title":"Saudi J. Kidney Dis. Transpl."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Younes, N., Chemaitelly, H., Nizamuddin, P.B., Al-Hamad, T., Abdallah, M., Yassine, H.M., Abu-Raddad, L.J., and Nasrallah, G.K. (2024). Prevalence of hepatitis A virus among migrant workers in Qatar: A national study. PLoS ONE, 19.","DOI":"10.1101\/2024.02.27.24303440"},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"492","article-title":"Profile of Viral Hepatitis in Saudi Arabia","volume":"8","author":"Alshabanat","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Bioeng. Life Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268800051530","article-title":"Prevalence of hepatitis A virus infection among sewage workers in Singapore","volume":"113","author":"Heng","year":"1994","journal-title":"Epidemiol. Infect."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1111\/jvh.12282","article-title":"Hepatitis A virus in the Middle East and North Africa region: A new challenge","volume":"21","author":"Melhem","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Viral Hepat."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"829","DOI":"10.26719\/emhj.22.087","article-title":"Seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus antibody in Iraq","volume":"28","author":"Abdullah","year":"2022","journal-title":"East. Mediterr. Health J."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"25","article-title":"Epidemiological factors affecting hepatitis a seroprevalence in childhood in a developing country","volume":"40","author":"Ertekin","year":"2008","journal-title":"Eurasian J. Med."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.5334\/aogh.2574","article-title":"Nationwide Hospital-Based Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E Virus in Bangladesh","volume":"86","author":"Khan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ann. Glob. Health"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4498","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph9124498","article-title":"Hepatitis A virus infection and the waste handling industry: A seroprevalence study","volume":"9","author":"Rachiotis","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"362","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm7214a2","article-title":"Widespread Community Transmission of Hepatitis A Virus Following an Outbreak at a Local Restaurant\u2014Virginia, September 2021\u2013September 2022","volume":"72","author":"Helmick","year":"2023","journal-title":"MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2172","DOI":"10.1017\/S0950268812000015","article-title":"Comparative hepatitis A seroepidemiology in 10 European countries","volume":"140","author":"Kurkela","year":"2012","journal-title":"Epidemiol. Infect."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2025, April 03). Clinical Screening and Diagnosis for Hepatitis A. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/hepatitis-a\/hcp\/diagnosis-testing\/index.html."}],"container-title":["Journal of Clinical Medicine"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/14\/19\/6857\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,30]],"date-time":"2025-09-30T04:35:22Z","timestamp":1759206922000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/14\/19\/6857"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,28]]},"references-count":27,"journal-issue":{"issue":"19","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,10]]}},"alternative-id":["jcm14196857"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm14196857","relation":{},"ISSN":["2077-0383"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2077-0383"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,28]]}}}