title: Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus in residents of a district in Havana, Cuba.
abstract: A seroepidemiological study of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection was conducted in a district of Havana, where hepatitis A virus (HAV) is considered endemic. The levels of anti-HEV antibodies were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the recombinant protein GST-ORF2.1. Anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 11 of 209 (5.3%) of serum samples, compared to 71.3% for anti-HAV antibodies. No risk factors reported previously for HEV infection showed a significant association with the presence of anti-HEV antibodies, whereas anti-HAV antibodies were strongly associated with increasing age. HEV may be considered endemic in this area and is likely to have a significant clinical impact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Germany. ptaqgo@uniklinik-saarland.de
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quintana
authors.forename: Lizet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Osmany
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Larralde
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies