TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus in two large communities in Havana, Cuba
AU - Villalba, María C Montalvo
AU - Guan, Ming
AU - Pérez, Antonio
AU - Corredor, Marité Bello
AU - Frometa, Susel Sariego
AU - Moreno, Aidonis Gutiérrez
AU - Hu, Wei P.
AU - Howard, Teresa
AU - Lay, Licel A Rodríguez
AU - Anderson, David
PY - 2010/12
Y1 - 2010/12
N2 - Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis in tropical and sub-tropical regions that occurs both as epidemic episodes and sporadic cases. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of total immunoglobulin (Ig) anti-hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) and the risk factors associated to two communities in Havana City. Serum samples (n=469) obtained from healthy individuals with no history of viral hepatitis were screened for total anti-HEV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). An overall prevalence of 10% (47/469) (95% CI; 7.52-13.19%) was obtained. Higher anti-HEV prevalence was found in the municipality of Marianao (12.1%) compared to Playa (7.1%). Analysis of risk factors revealed a significant association of total anti-HEV prevalence in age group 41-60 years old, with a risk ratio of 3.21 (95% CI: 1.09-9.7) (P=0.01). No relation was found between anti-HEV and other variables such as gender, risk occupations, surgery and transfusions. The detection of total anti-HEV in individuals with no overt acute hepatitis suggests the existence of sub-clinical or anicteric HEV infection in these municipalities.
AB - Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an important cause of acute viral hepatitis in tropical and sub-tropical regions that occurs both as epidemic episodes and sporadic cases. The aim of this investigation was to estimate the prevalence of total immunoglobulin (Ig) anti-hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) and the risk factors associated to two communities in Havana City. Serum samples (n=469) obtained from healthy individuals with no history of viral hepatitis were screened for total anti-HEV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). An overall prevalence of 10% (47/469) (95% CI; 7.52-13.19%) was obtained. Higher anti-HEV prevalence was found in the municipality of Marianao (12.1%) compared to Playa (7.1%). Analysis of risk factors revealed a significant association of total anti-HEV prevalence in age group 41-60 years old, with a risk ratio of 3.21 (95% CI: 1.09-9.7) (P=0.01). No relation was found between anti-HEV and other variables such as gender, risk occupations, surgery and transfusions. The detection of total anti-HEV in individuals with no overt acute hepatitis suggests the existence of sub-clinical or anicteric HEV infection in these municipalities.
KW - Anti-HEV
KW - Cuba
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Hepatitis
KW - Hepatitis E virus
KW - Risk factors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78349309964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.08.006
DO - 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.08.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78349309964
SN - 0035-9203
VL - 104
SP - 772
EP - 776
JO - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
JF - Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
IS - 12
ER -