Population seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies in rural Bangladesh.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes a substantial burden of sporadic and epidemic disease worldwide. HEV infections result in serious morbidity and mortality, especially among pregnant women, and have significant economic costs. Few population-based studies have characterized the epidemiology of HEV. A rural Bangladeshi population was studied to determine the age- and gender- specific population seroprevalence of antibodies to HEV. Of 1,134 specimens tested from a representative, random population sample, 255 (22.5%) were anti-HEV IgG seropositive. Seroprevalence was lower among women (19.7%) than among men (25.8%). We found anti-HBc (hepatitis B core) in 380 of 1080(35.2%) tested, anti-HCV (hepatitis C) in 14 of 917(1.5%) tested, and anti-HAV (hepatitis A) in 116 of 124(93.5%) tested individuals. Our data suggest that viral hepatitis, especially HEV, remains an under-recognized and significant public health problem in rural Bangladeshi populations, warranting further attention.
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. alabriqu@jhsph.edu
Alain B
AB
Labrique
K
K
Zaman
Zahid
Z
Hossain
Parimalendu
P
Saha
Mohammad
M
Yunus
Anowar
A
Hossain
John
J
Ticehurst
Kenrad E
KE
Nelson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
D007074:Immunoglobulin G