title: Anti-hepatitis E virus antibody prevalence in French expatriate workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute hepatitis in developing countries and an emerging pathogen in Europe. HEV seroprevalence has rarely been assessed in cohorts of travelers, and previous studies have reported a very low rate of exposure. We assessed HEV seroprevalence in French expatriate workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of HEV IgG and IgM was assessed among 43 French expatriate workers using two commercial microplate enzyme immunoassays (Adaltis and Wantai). Additionally HEV IgG-positive sera were tested with an immunoblot assay (recomLine), while IgM-positive sera were tested with a rapid immunochromatographic assay (Assure).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was 3.7 times higher in French expatriates than in comparable blood donors from the same area. A discrepancy was evidenced between the HEV IgG results obtained by the Wantai and Adaltis assays (48.8% vs. 30.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expatriation from France, including to areas not recognized as hyperendemic for HEV, may expose individuals to HEV infection. This issue warrants further study; in particular, serology should be compared before and after travel. The most sensitive Wantai serological assay should be used for epidemiological studies to obtain better insight into the epidemiology of HEV.
authors: Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Nord, Chemin des Bourrelys, 13015 Marseille, France.
authors: Mireille
authors: M
authors: Vernier
authors: Morgane
authors: M
authors: Rossi-Tamisier
authors: Hervé
authors: H
authors: Richet
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Brouqui
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Parola
authors: Yanis
authors: Y
authors: Bouamri
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Colson
authors: Philippe
authors: P
authors: Gautret
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Expatriate; France; Hepatitis E virus; Serological assay; Seroprevalence; Workers