RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: The prevalence, public health impact, and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) are poorly understood in Brazil. METHODS: Serum samples from 535 individuals from three rural Afro-descendant communities located in eastern Brazilian Amazon were collected in October 2015 and tested for presence of anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibodies. Serologically positive samples were also tested for HEV-RNA. RESULTS: Two cases were confirmed for anti-HEV IgM (0.3 %) and two cases for anti-HEV IgG (0.3 %). No sample was positive for HEV-RNA. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated low prevalence of HEV infection in Afro-descendant rural communities from the eastern Brazilian Amazon.
Asunto(s)
Población Negra , Anticuerpos Antihepatitis/sangre , Virus de la Hepatitis E/inmunología , Hepatitis E/epidemiología , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Inmunoglobulina M/sangre , ARN Viral/sangre , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Brasil/epidemiología , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Hepatitis E/diagnóstico , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Prevalencia , Población Rural , Estudios SeroepidemiológicosRESUMEN
Abstract INTRODUCTION The prevalence, public health impact, and epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis E virus (HEV) are poorly understood in Brazil. METHODS Serum samples from 535 individuals from three rural Afro-descendant communities located in eastern Brazilian Amazon were collected in October 2015 and tested for presence of anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibodies. Serologically positive samples were also tested for HEV-RNA. RESULTS Two cases were confirmed for anti-HEV IgM (0.3 %) and two cases for anti-HEV IgG (0.3 %). No sample was positive for HEV-RNA. CONCLUSIONS Results indicated low prevalence of HEV infection in Afro-descendant rural communities from the eastern Brazilian Amazon.