RESUMO
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.
Assuntos
População Negra , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite/sangue , Vírus da Hepatite E/imunologia , Hepatite E/epidemiologia , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , RNA Viral/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Hepatite E/diagnóstico , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prevalência , População Rural , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
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.
