Emerging Infectious Diseases (Oct 2012)

Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence among Adults, Germany

  • Mirko S. Faber,
  • Jürgen J. Wenzel,
  • Wolfgang Jilg,
  • Michael Thamm,
  • Michael Höhle,
  • Klaus Stark

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1810.111756
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 10
pp. 1654 – 1657

Abstract

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We assessed hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody seroprevalence in a sample of the adult population in Germany. Overall HEV IgG prevalence was 16.8% (95% CI 15.6%–17.9%) and increased with age, leveling off at >60 years of age. HEV is endemic in Germany, and the lifetime risk for exposure is high.

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