title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in the UK farming population.
abstract: Hepatitis E is a zoonosis that can be acquired by the consumption of contaminated food or water, or via person-to-person spread. However, little is known about the transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the UK. We investigated the epidemiology of indigenous hepatitis E infection using the PHLS Farm Cohort, a sentinel group with a history of close contact with a range of domestic animals. Ten of the 413 subjects tested were positive for hepatitis E IgG antibodies (2.4%). Seroprevalence peaked in those aged 51 to 60 years (relative risk 3.3, 95% CI: 1.0-10.5). Male participants (relative risk 3.6, 95% CI: 0.6-21.2) and those from farms in the Hereford area of the United Kingdom (relative risk 2.7, 95% CI: 0.8-8.4), an area of mixed livestock farming, were more likely to have serological evidence of previous HEVs exposure, although these findings were not statistically significant. Exposure to pigs, or water from a private supply, was not identified as a significant risk factor. The results of this study suggest that UK farming populations are exposed to HEV, but the predominant route of transmission remains elusive.
authors.affiliation: The Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Colney, Norfolk, NR4 7UY, UK. emma.meader@nnuh.nhs.uk
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meader
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sillis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013552:Swine; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G