[Hepatitis E and exposure to waste water].
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is found in waste water which represents a route of infection. However, the risk for sewage workers is unknown. Thus, we aimed at determining the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in sewage workers from the Canton of Zurich. The anti-HEV antibodies evaluated in 288 subjects with exposure to sewage and 306 controls, a total of 594 subjects. Overall, twenty-two (3.7%) subjects had anti-HEV, the seroprevalence was similar in those exposed and controls. The most important risk factor, travelling in endemic areas, was lacking in two workers, who both were exposed to sewage. A follow up study in the population will soon give further evidence on the incidence rate.
Jeggli
S
S
Abteilung für Arbeits- und Umweltmedizin, Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Prävention übertragbarer Krankheiten und Abteilung für klinische Immunologie. Sjeggli@Yahoo.com
Steiner
D
D
Joller
H
H
Steffen
R
R
Hotz
P
P
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012722:Sewage / Q000821:virology*; D013557:Switzerland
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012722:Sewage