Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A virus infection in non-human primates in Assam, India

The present study investigated 37 serum samples of non-human primates in Assam State Zoo and the Department of Forest and Environment, Govt. of Assam for seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus infection during the period from December, 2007 to November, 2009. Four serum samples were also collected from animal keepers of the zoo to investigate transmission of the disease to the attendants working with these primates. Competitive ELISA was performed using hepatitis A virus ELISA kit (Wanti Hep. AV) to detect hepatitis A virus antibody in serum samples. Ten (27.21%) of the non-human primate samples and three (75%) human samples had detectable anti-hepatitis A virus antibodies. Living status of the non-human primates (Free living) was a high potential risk for hepatitis A virus infection. Seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus infection had significant difference between free living non-human primates and captive non-human primates (P less than 0.05). No significant difference (p=0.86) was seen between male and female non-human primates