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Hepatitis A (HAV) is vaccine-preventable disease with an ongoing burden of disease nationally and worldwide. It is caused by a non-enveloped RNA virus with predominantly fecal-oral spread. It does not cause chronic disease and symptomatic infection increases with age. Fulminant disease and death are more common in the elderly and comorbid, particularly those with underlying chronic liver disease. Immunity to HAV infection occurs after infection or vaccination, with antibody levels indicating seroconversion. The additional role of cell-mediated immunity below this threshold is unclear in healthy hosts but even less defined in those with abnormal immune systems or receiving immunosuppression after transplantation.

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-01751-4_35-1