Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical ()

Hepatitis E seroprevalence and associated factors in rural settlers in Central Brazil

  • Nara Rubia de Freitas,
  • Sheila Araújo Teles,
  • Karlla Antonieta Amorim Caetano,
  • Marcos Andre de Matos,
  • Megmar Aparecida dos Santos Carneiro,
  • Noemi Rovaris Gardinali,
  • Marcelo Alves Pinto,
  • Regina Maria Bringel Martins

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0105-2017
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 50, no. 5
pp. 675 – 679

Abstract

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Abstract INTRODUCTION: Prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and associated factors were investigated in rural settlements in Central Brazil. METHODS: A total of 464 settlers were interviewed, and serum samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG/IgM. Positive samples were tested for HEV RNA. RESULTS: Sixteen participants (3.4%; 95% CI 2.0-5.7) were positive for anti-HEV IgG. None was positive for anti-HEV IgM. HEV RNA was not detected. Dwelling in a rural settlement for >5 years was associated with HEV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed the absence of acute infection and a low prevalence of previous exposure to HEV.

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