title: Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) seroprevalence in the general population of the Republic of Korea in 2007-2009: a nationwide cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen associated with endemic and acute viral hepatitis. In this study, we investigate the HEV seroprevalence and putative risk factors by a nationwide cross-sectional study in the Republic of Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of anti-HEV antibody was investigated in 2,450 serum samples collected in fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In addition, epidemiological information on possible risk factors including gender, age, education, occupation, and residence location for exposure to HEV was obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of anti-EIA reactive sample was 5.9% (144/2450). The individuals in groups with male, older age, low education level and living in rural or coastal regions had high seroprevalence estimates (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, seroprevalence was significantly higher among individuals with self-identified skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers (31.3%, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides valuable data that could be used to investigate associations of HEV seroprevalence and putative risk factors by a nationwide cross-sectional study. The high HEV seroprevalence of skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers and individuals lived in coastal and rural area indicated that zoonotic transmission is an important risk factor for HEV infection in the republic of Korea. Further studies that include detailed and continuous nationwide surveys are required to identify unrecognized risk factors and to monitor the HEV infection prevalence.
authors.forename: Youngsil
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hye Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Haesun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Hyeokjin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoo-Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Bohyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chae Jin
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sangwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Vaccine Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong-eup, CheongJu, Chungcheongbuk-do 363-951, Republic of Korea. jyhyeon1205@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ji-Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hyeon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies