Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in Austrian adults: a nationwide cross-sectional study among civilians and military professionals

Autor: Heidi Winkler, Wolfgang Poeppl, Gerhard Mooseder, Harald Herkner, Heinz Burgmann, Heimo Lagler, Angelus Faas
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Blood Glucose
Male
Veterinary medicine
Epidemiology
Cross-sectional study
viruses
medicine.disease_cause
Hepatitis
Hepatitis E virus
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Medicine
Gastrointestinal Infections
Young adult
Multidisciplinary
Geography
Liver Diseases
virus diseases
Alanine Transaminase
Middle Aged
Hepatitis E
Lipids
Military personnel
Military Personnel
Austria
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Infectious diseases
Female
Public Health
Research Article
Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
Science
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Viral diseases
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Young Adult
Other Viral Hepatitis
Environmental health
Humans
Seroprevalence
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Hepatitis Antibodies
Biology
Population Biology
Infectious Hepatitis
business.industry
Public health
medicine.disease
digestive system diseases
Cross-Sectional Studies
business
Zdroj: PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Iss 2, p e87669 (2014)
PLoS ONE
ISSN: 1932-6203
Popis: 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.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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