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Prevalence of Antibodies Against Hepatitis E Virus in Veterinarians in Estonia.
- Source :
-
Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.) [Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis] 2017 Nov; Vol. 17 (11), pp. 773-776. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Sep 21. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- In this cross-sectional study, we investigated veterinarians in Estonia for evidence of exposure to hepatitis E virus (HEV). In 2012, we collected sera from 158 persons attending a veterinary conference, of whom 156 completed a questionnaire covering their background information. Altogether 115 persons reported they had obtained a veterinary degree and were included in this study. The sera were tested for presence of antibodies against HEV using a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and a commercial immunoblot assay in series. A sample was considered antibody-positive if it tested positive with both tests. Antibody-positive samples were further examined for the presence of HEV RNA. Three (2.6%) of the 115 veterinarians tested positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against HEV, whereas no immunoglobulin M antibodies against the virus were detected. The antibody-positive veterinarians were small animal practitioners. Pigs comprised no or small part of their working time or patients. No HEV RNA was detected in the antibody-positive samples. The prevalence of antibodies against HEV in veterinarians in Estonia was lower than what has been observed in veterinarians in other countries.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Animals
Cross-Sectional Studies
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Estonia epidemiology
Female
Hepatitis E epidemiology
Humans
Immunoblotting
Immunoglobulin G blood
Immunoglobulin M blood
Male
RNA, Viral
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Zoonoses
Antibodies, Viral blood
Hepatitis E immunology
Hepatitis E virus immunology
Occupational Exposure
Veterinarians
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1557-7759
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28933680
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2017.2122