Infection and risk factors of hepatitis E in different populations

Objective To describe the infection rate of hepatitis E virus(HEV)among livestock workers and the general population in Yangzhong city and to explore the risk factors of HEV infection. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out in the population of veterinarian,salesman,slaughter,large-scale animal husbandry,livestock rearing and other practitioner,and general population.Serum HEV antibodies was tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of HEV infection. Results Nine out of 947 subjects were anti-HEV IgM positive(0.95%)and 539 out of 947 were anti-HEV IgG positive(56.9%).Livestock salesman had the highest infection rate(80.6%),followed by the population of rearing(79.3%),veterinarians(75.9%),slaughtering(72.7%), and breeding(65%).The infection rate of HEV among the general population was only 39.0%.Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that poultry treatment,sale,slaughter,large-scale livestock raising,livestock rearing and other professional practitioners,without frequent hand washing,and eating out increased the risk of HEV infection.HEV infection rate decreased in the population with high education and without washing vegetables with river water. Conclusion Cutting off animal-contact transmission and promoting good health habits are effective measures for the preventoin of hepatitis E.