Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in animal workers in nonporcine consumption region of Turkey

Abstract

Aim: Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) and its potential zoonotic role in occupational groups that come into direct contact with domestic ruminants and chickens. Materials & methods: The seroprevalence of the HEV IgG antibody was determined on 92 samples using a commercial ELISA test kit. Results: The overall rate of HEV-IgG seroprevalence in the risk group was 35.9%. The control group seroprevalence was found to be 4.4%. Conclusion: HEV infection is a potential occupational hazard for people who work in jobs directly related to animals, with the exception of veterinarians, who use protective equipments to prevent the infection. Further studies should be performed with increased observation of specific risk groups in order to understand the local epidemiology and guide vaccination strategies.