title: Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection among Swine Farmers and the General Population in Rural Taiwan.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen. We evaluated the seroprevalence of HEV infection among swine farmers and the general population in Taiwan, a nonendemic country.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study in rural Taiwan in 2012 and 2013. The study included swine farmers, health examination attendees, pregnant women, and students. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM against HEV. Pertinent information was collected using a questionnaire.
  
  
  
  In total, 660 participants were enrolled in the study, including 156 swine farmers, 314 health examination attendees, 100 pregnant women, and 90 students. IgG anti-HEV was detected in 29.5% of swine farmers, 11.5% of health examination attendees, 2% of pregnant women, and 1.1% of students. Two subjects were positive for IgM anti-HEV. Logistic regression analysis revealed that swine farmers had an approximately 3.5-fold increased risk (odds ratio [OR], 3.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.91-6.27; p<0.0001) for being seropositive for IgG anti-HEV as compared to the general population. Age was positively associated with seropositive rate (OR, 1.07 per year; 95% CI, 1.05-1.09; p<0.0001).
  
  
  
  HEV infection is prevalent in Taiwan. The seroprevalence of HEV infection is high in swine farmers and in the elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jian-Te
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pei-Lan
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Luan-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ning-Shao
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Pei-Jer
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000067565:Farmers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine / Q000821:virology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G