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. 2017 Apr;96(4):929-934.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0727. Epub 2017 Jan 30.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Among Boston Area Travelers, 2009-2010

Kira A Barbre  1 , Emily S Jentes  1 , Jan Drobeniuc  2 , Saleem Kamili  2 , Davidson H Hamer  3   4 , Elizabeth D Barnett  5
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Among Boston Area Travelers, 2009-2010

Kira A Barbre et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

AbstractWe determined the prevalence of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV IgG) among travelers attending Boston-area travel health clinics from 2009 to 2010. Pre-travel samples were available for 1,356 travelers, with paired pre- and post-travel samples for 450 (33%). Eighty of 1,356 (6%) pre-travel samples were positive for anti-HEV IgG. Compared with participants who had never lived in nor traveled to a highly endemic country, the pre-travel prevalence odds ratio (POR) of anti-HEV IgG among participants born in or with a history of previous travel to a highly endemic country was increased (POR = 4.8, 95% CI = 2.3-10.3 and POR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.4-5.0, respectively). Among participants with previous travel to a highly endemic country, anti-HEV IgG was associated with age > 40 years (POR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.3-10.2) and travel history to ≥ 3 highly endemic countries (POR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.2-5.9). Two participants may have contracted HEV infection during their 2009-2010 trip.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Global distribution of hepatitis E virus infection, 2010.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Pre- and post-travel hepatitis E IgG antibody results among 1,356 participants who received pre-travel care at Boston Area Travel Medicine Network clinics during January 2009 to September 2010.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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