Abstract
Transmission routes of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) are under debate. Here, we studied possible sexual transmission by comparing HEV prevalence in a Dutch sexual high-risk population (n = 1,482) with that in a general population (n = 1,487) while assessing sociodemo-graphic and sexual risk factors. Overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG of 18.9% (n = 562) was, adjusting for confounders, similar between the two populations (p = 0.44). Prevalence was higher with each year's increase in age (adjusted OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04, p<0.01), among men (adjusted OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02-1.50, p = 0.03) and among individuals diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (adjusted OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.02-2.49, p = 0.04). Our results only hint at the possibility of a sexual transmission route for HEV given higher rates in those with chlamydia and/or gonorrheal infections. Sexual transmission is not a dominant transmission route, as its prevalence was not higher for the sexual high-risk population than for the general population.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 0191798 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | PLOS ONE |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 Jan 2018 |
Keywords
- ORGAN-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
- E VIRUS-INFECTION
- DEVELOPED-COUNTRIES
- IGG SEROPREVALENCE
- NETHERLANDS
- DISEASE
- TRANSMISSION
- INDIVIDUALS
- Hepatitis E/epidemiology
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Prevalence
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology
- Young Adult
- Adult
- Female
- Netherlands/epidemiology
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Sexual Behavior
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Risk Factors
- Hepatitis E virus/immunology
- Aged
- Cohort Studies