Epidemiological and epizootiological characteristics of hepatitis E infection in continental Croatia

Infekcija virusom hepatitisa E (HEV) u novije doba predstavlja značajan javnozdravstveni problem. Stope seroprevalencije uvelike se razlikuju ovisno o geografskoj regiji i skupini stanovništva. Cilj ove studije bio je analizirati seroprevalenciju HEV-a u izloženoj (zanimanja povezana sa životinjama) i neizloženoj populaciji te analizirati okolišne čimbenike rizika za HEV. U istraživanje su bili uključeni šumarski radnici (N=93), lovci (N=74) i veterinari (N=151) koji su predstavljali izloženu populaciju. Opća populacija (N=135) i trudnice (N=120) činile su kontrolnu skupinu. Protutijela IgG na HEV otkrivena su pomoću ELISA i potvrđena imunoblot testom. Seroprevalencija HEV-a značajno se razlikovala između skupina: veterinari 15,2%, lovci 14,9%, šumarski radnici 6,5%, opća populacija 7,1%, trudnice 1,7%. Uočeno je značajno povećanje seropozitivnosti s dobi od 2,9% kod osoba mlađih od 30 godina do 23,5% kod osoba starijih od 60 godina. Sociodemografske karakteristike (spol, stupanj obrazovanja, područje stanovanja, broj članova kućanstva), prehrambene navike (konzumacija mesa divljači, iznutrica, proizvoda od svinjskog mesa), uvjeti okoliša i stanovanja (opskrba pitkom vodom, vrsta odvodnje/kanalizacije, odlaganje otpada, domaće životinje) nisu bili povezani sa seropozitivnošću na HEV. Međutim, pojedinci koji su prijavili posjedovanje kućnog ljubimca bili su češće seropozitivni u usporedbi s onima koji nisu imali kućne ljubimce (12,5% prema 7,0%).
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a significant public health problem in recent times. The seroprevalence rates differ greatly according to geographic region and population group. The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of HEV in exposed (animal-related professions) and non-exposed populations and to analyze the environmental risk factors for HEV. The study included forestry workers (N=93), hunters (N=74) and veterinarians (N=151) who represented the exposed population. General population (N=135) and pregnant women (N=120) constituted the control group. HEV IgG antibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by immunoblot test. The HEV seroprevalence differed significantly between groups: veterinarians 15.2%, hunters 14.9%, forestry workers 6.5%, general population 7.1%, pregnant women 1.7%. A significant increase in the seropositivity with age was observed from 2.9% in individuals less than 30 years to 23.5% in those older than 60 years. Sociodemographic characteristics (gender, educational level, area of residents, number of household members), eating habits (game meat, offal, pork products consumption), environmental and housing conditions (drinking water supply, type of water drainage/sewer, waste disposal, domestic animals) were not associated with the HEV seropositivity. However, individuals who reported a pet ownership were more often seropositive compared who did not have pet animals (12.5% vs 7.0%).