[The identification of hepatitis A virus in faeces. Diagnosis and epidemiological value (author's transl)]

During 1976, two hepatitis A epidemics in institutions enabled the authors to study the presence of the virus in the faeces during the course of the disease. After concentration of feacal extracts in polyethyleneglycol 6000, virions were observed by immune electron microscopy. Among 13 stool extracts examined, 11 proved positive. The two negative extracts were samples collected one month after the onset of clinical symptoms and signs. The samples richest in particles were those collected during the preicteric phase of the disease. In those cases in which samples were collected during jaundice, the viral concentration was lower. The limit of detection was a period of five days after the onset of jaundice. Thus, examination for hepatitis A virus in the faeces by electron microscopy may be used to obtain an aetiological diagnosis at the beginning of the disease. In one of the patients, a study of the kinetics of the appearance of antibodies was possible. From the time of onset of jaundice, the presence of specific antibodies was noted, reaching a maximum after two months. In the children's institution, no cases of hepatitis A were seen among those entrants who had received an injection of standard polyvalent gammaglobulin at the time of admission.