Epidemiological study of hepatitis E virus infection in the general population of Okinawa, Kyushu, Japan.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in the general population of Japan by determining presence of the antibody to HEV (anti-HEV).


METHODS
The prevalence of HEV infection was determined by positivity of serum antibody to HEV (anti-HEV).


RESULTS
On retrospective analysis, a significant decrease in anti-HEV prevalence was found in Okinawa healthy residents from 1995 (15.8%) to 2005 (5.5%) (P < 0.0001). In 2005, the anti-HEV prevalence was significantly higher in Okinawa wild boar hunters (25.3%) than in the residents (male 7.7% and female 4.1%) (P < 0.0001). A significant difference was found in the history of consumption of undercooked or raw boar meat between anti-HEV positive and negative hunters (100% vs 64.3%) (P = 0.0018).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the anti-HEV prevalence has decreased in the residents of this area, but HEV infection has continued at a high rate in the hunters through the custom of eating undercooked or raw boar meat.
Toyoda
Kazuhiro
K
Department of Environmental Medicine and Infectious Disease, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Furusyo
Norihiro
N
Takeoka
Hiroaki
H
Murata
Masayuki
M
Sawayama
Yasunori
Y
Hayashi
Jun
J
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003296:Cooking; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000635:transmission; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011998:Recreation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral