Abstract
BackgroundHepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection is globally increasing. The present study was performed to investigate the HEV seroprevalence, exposure risks as well as occupational risks for military personnel in Austria, a Central European country.Methods and FindingsA nationwide cross-sectional seroprevalence study was performed in 997 healthy Austrian adults, professional soldiers and civilians. Routine laboratory and HEV specific antibodies were determined. In addition, epidemiological information on possible risk factors for exposure to HEV was obtained. The overall seropositivity for HEV antibodies was 14.3% and significantly increased with age. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among individuals with previous military employments abroad (21.4% vs. 9.9%) and among professional soldiers aged 30–39 years (20.2% vs. 7.3%). No association was found for private travel, occupational or private animal contact or regular outdoor activities. Individuals who tested positive for antibodies against HEV had significantly higher laboratory values regarding liver enzymes, lipid levels and blood fasting glucose.ConclusionsExposure to HEV is common in Austria. Military employment abroad could be a potential risk factor for HEV infection. Further studies are required to investigate the significance of pathological laboratory results found among asymptomatic individuals previously exposed to HEV.
Highlights
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a non-enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Hepevirus in the Hepeviridae family
Further studies are required to investigate the significance of pathological laboratory results found among asymptomatic individuals previously exposed to Hepatitis E Virus (HEV)
997 healthy Austrians aged between 18–59 years participated in the study from April to September 2009, with 980 (98.3%) being male and 17 (0.7%) female
Summary
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a non-enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Hepevirus in the Hepeviridae family. HEV has initially been identified as an enterically transmitted ‘‘epidemic, non-A, non-B hepatitis’’ in the early 1980s in developing countries, while the viral genome was characterized one decade later [1,2]. HEV infection was considered to be a travel-associated disease widely endemic in developing countries. HEV infection has increasingly been recognized as an emerging disease in both developing and industrialized countries. HEV is currently classified into four major genotypes, which all belong to one serotype. These genotypes differ in terms of epidemiological distribution, clinical presentation and host species. Genotype 1 and 2 are endemic in developing countries and infect only humans, while no animal reservoir has been identified. The present study was performed to investigate the HEV seroprevalence, exposure risks as well as occupational risks for military personnel in Austria, a Central European country
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