title: Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in three hyperendemic areas: Nepal, Bangladesh and southwest France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis E causes a significant burden of disease in developing countries and has recently been increasingly recognized in developed countries. Comparing population anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) seroprevalence across populations has been difficult.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence in both adults and children in three hyper-endemic areas (Nepal, Bangladesh and southwest France) using a sensitive, commercial anti-HEV IgG assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum or plasma from adults and children in Nepal (n=498), Bangladesh (n=1,009) and Southwest France (n=1031) were tested for anti-HEV IgG using the Wantai assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After age-standardization, anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence was 47.1%, 49.8% and 34.0% in Nepal, Bangladesh and southwest France, respectively. There was no difference in seroprevalence by gender in any of the countries. A paucity of infections in children 1-10 years-old was consistently observed (less than 15%) at all 3 locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surprisingly similar high rates of anti-HEV antibodies were detected using a common, sensitive assay. Despite differences in the epidemiology and circulating genotype of HEV in Nepal, Bangladesh and southwest France, this study found more similarities in population seroprevalence than expected.
authors: Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Inserm, U1043, Toulouse, France; Hôpital Purpan, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Izopet
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Alain B
authors: AB
authors: Labrique
authors: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit\Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors: Buddha
authors: B
authors: Basnyat
authors: University of Exeter, Truro, Cornwall, UK; Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, Cornwall, UK.
authors: Harry R
authors: HR
authors: Dalton
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Brittany
authors: B
authors: Kmush
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Christopher D
authors: CD
authors: Heaney
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Kenrad E
authors: KE
authors: Nelson
authors: Child Health Research Foundation, Department of Microbiology, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: Zabed B
authors: ZB
authors: Ahmed
authors: cddr, b, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Zaman
authors: Hôpital Purpan, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors: Jean-Michel
authors: JM
authors: Mansuy
authors: University of Exeter, Truro, Cornwall, UK; Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, Cornwall, UK.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Bendall
authors: Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Inserm, U1043, Toulouse, France; Hôpital Purpan, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors: Karine
authors: K
authors: Sauné
authors: Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France; Inserm, U1043, Toulouse, France; Hôpital Rangueil, CHU de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors: Nassim
authors: N
authors: Kamar
authors: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit\Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Arjyal
authors: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit\Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors: Abhilasha
authors: A
authors: Karkey
authors: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit\Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Dongol
authors: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit\Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors: Krishna Govind
authors: KG
authors: Prajapati
authors: Oxford University Clinical Research Unit\Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors: Dinesh
authors: D
authors: Adhikary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Adult; Child; Hepatitis E Virus; Seroepidemiologic studies