Age-specific antibody to hepatitis E virus has remained constant during the past 20 years in Japan.
We investigated the presence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) and hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) by enzyme immunoassays in sera from 1015 individuals collected in 1974, 1984 and 1994. Age-specific profiles of anti-HEV remained unchanged with a peak at 40-49 years, while those of anti-HAV started to increase in individuals aged 20-29 years in 1974, 30-39 years in 1984 and 40-49 years in 1994. These results suggest that a silent HEV infection has been taking place in the last 20 years or so in Japan, while HAV infection has been terminated at least since 1974.
Tanaka
E
E
Department of Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Asahi, Matsumoto, Japan. etanaka@hsp.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
Matsumoto
A
A
Takeda
N
N
Li
T-C
TC
Umemura
T
T
Yoshizawa
K
K
Miyakawa
Y
Y
Miyamura
T
T
Kiyosawa
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies