Hepatitis E virus infection in north-east Italy: serological study in the open population and groups at risk

• Published in: Journal of viral hepatitis Vol. 3; no. 4; p. 197
• Main Authors: Gessoni, G, Manoni, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.07.1996
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Antibodies, Viral - analysis; Antigens, Viral - genetics; Antigens, Viral - immunology; Female; Hepatitis B Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis C Antibodies - analysis; Hepatitis E - epidemiology; Hepatitis E virus - immunology; HIV Antibodies - analysis; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - analysis; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Peptides - chemical synthesis; Peptides - immunology; Prevalence; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Renal Dialysis - adverse effects; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Substance-Related Disorders - virology; Italy
• ISSN: 1352-0504
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2893.1996.tb00095.x

Developed western countries are considered to be relatively free from endemic foci of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections. The aim of this study was to assess the seroepidemiology of HEV in north-east Italy. Of the 2361 individuals studied 1889 were representative of the general population and 472 were from groups at high risk for viral infections: 279 drug users and 193 patients on chronic haemodialysis. All sera were tested for hepatitis C virus antibody (HCVAb), human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIVAb) and for hepatitis B virus (HBV) serology. Two solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to study the seroepidemiology of HEV IgG, the first (using recombinant antigens) for confirmation of initially reactive samples. The prevalence of circulating hepatitis E virus antibody (HEVAb) was 2.6% in the open population, 5.4% among drug users and 9.3% among patients on chronic haemodialysis. In the open population a positive relationship between age and prevalence of HEVAb was observed. A relationship between presence of HEVAb and serological evidence of previous HBV or HCV infections was also observed in this study. It was concluded that HEV infections are present in north-east Italy and are more frequent among subjects at risk for blood-borne viral infections. The positive correlation, observed in the open population, between age and prevalence of HEVAb suggests the presence of a cohort effect.