title: [Hepatitis E and exposure to waste water].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Arbeits- und Umweltmedizin, Abteilung für Epidemiologie und Prävention übertragbarer Krankheiten und Abteilung für klinische Immunologie. Sjeggli@Yahoo.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeggli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Joller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hotz
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012722:Sewage