Publications & Reports

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus in residents of a district in Havana, Cuba.

Quintana A, Sanchez L, Larralde O, Anderson D
Department of Physiology, University of the Saarland, Homburg, Germany. [email protected]

Abstract

A seroepidemiological study of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection was conducted in a district of Havana, where hepatitis A virus (HAV) is considered endemic. The levels of anti-HEV antibodies were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the recombinant protein GST-ORF2.1. Anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 11 of 209 (5.3%) of serum samples, compared to 71.3% for anti-HAV antibodies. No risk factors reported previously for HEV infection showed a significant association with the presence of anti-HEV antibodies, whereas anti-HAV antibodies were strongly associated with increasing age. HEV may be considered endemic in this area and is likely to have a significant clinical impact.

Publication

  • Journal: Journal of Medical Virology
  • Published: 01/05/2005
  • Volume: 76
  • Issue: 1
  • Pagination: 69-70

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