title: Seroprevalence of hepatitis E antibodies and risk profile of HEV seropositivity in The Netherlands, 2006-2007.
abstract: SHepatitis E virus (HEV) is now considered an endemic pathogen in industrialized countries, leading to acute and sometimes chronic hepatitis, mostly in vulnerable people. The endemic sources are unclear. A survey in The Netherlands in 2006-2007 showed a 1·9% seroprevalence of HEV antibodies measured by ELISA and confirmed by immunoblot in a nationwide sample. Overall, in 134/7072 (1·9%) seropositive individuals, older age (P<0·01), being male (P<0·01), working with patients (P=0·03), working with animals (P=0·07), recent diarrhoeal complaints (P=0·07) and adhering to a religion that considers pigs unclean (P<0·01) were independently associated with seropositivity in multivariate analysis. Sub-analysis of 59/4022 (1·5%) anti-HEV antibody-positive subjects with probable endemic exposure showed independent association with youngest household member being aged <5 years or between 19 and <65 years (P=0·05) in multivariate analysis. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the sources of endemic HEV exposure, and also highlight the need for systematic epidemiological and serological evaluation of new cases.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Center for Infectious Disease Control, Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Screening, Bilthoven, The Netherlands. linda.verhoef@rivm.nl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Verhoef
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koopmans
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duizer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reimerink
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Pelt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies