Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in Forestry Workers from Trentino-Alto Adige Region (Northern Italy)

Abstract

People with some occupational or recreational activities, such as hunters and veterinarians, may have increased risk to be infected by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). The aim of the present study was to establish whether forestry workers could be considered at a higher risk of HEV infection than a control group. One hundred and fifty sera from forestry workers and a control group of 85 sera were analysed by anti-HEV IgG antibodies detection using a commercial ELISA kit. The anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence was 14% for forestry workers and 9.4% for the control group. Comparing the risk of HEV infection in the two groups, there was no difference in the odds ratio. However, the seroprevalence in older subjects was higher in the forestry workers than in the control group. Two sera from forestry workers were also positive for anti-HEV IgM, and, in one of them, HEV-RNA was detected. Our findings showed an increase of seroprevalence with age, which is likely to reflect cumulative exposure to HEV over time. The occupation of forestry workers did not seem to be associated with a higher risk of HEV infection. The study provided new insights into the risk of acquiring HEV in occupational exposure workers with open-air activities.

Insights into hepatitis E virus epidemiology in Croatia

“…Similarly, a German study found no sex differences in the HEV seropositivity[ 15 ]. An increase in HEV seroprevalence with age, which is likely to reflect cumulative exposure to HEV over time was observed in many studies[ 11 , 12 , 14 , 27 ]. In this study, the highest seropositivity (23.5%) was observed in the age group 60 + years compared to 2.9%-10.9% in other age groups.…”

“…In France, the presence of anti-HEV IgG was associated with the consumption of pork meat, pork liver sausages, game meat, offal, and oysters[ 36 ]. The association between HEV seroprevalence and consumption of stewed offal was also confirmed among Polish hunters[ 12 ]. In Italy, many seropositive individuals reported consumption of raw or undercooked food, particularly shellfish (mussels) and unbottled drinking water[ 37 ].…”

“…The HEV seroprevalence rates vary greatly according to geographical region and study cohorts. The proposed transmission routes linked to professional exposures include frequent contact with the zoonotic HEV reservoirs, such as pigs and other wildlife species (mainly wild boar)[ 12 ]. Forestry workers, hunters, and veterinarians represented risk populations in this study.…”

“…Seroepidemiological studies conducted among forestry workers in Europe showed seropositivity of 31% in France (2002-2003)[ 11 ] and 18% in Germany (Brandenburg, 2008)[ 21 ]. In more recent studies, HEV antibodies were detected in 2.2% of forest rangers from western Poland (Poznan, 2014)[ 10 ], 5% of forestry workers from eastern Poland (Lubelskie Voivodship, 2014-2015)[ 13 ], and 14% of forestry workers in Italy (Trentino-Alto Adige Region, 2014-2015)[ 12 ]. Although forestry workers have been identified as being at risk of HEV infection in several studies, the French study revealed for the first time that woodcutters are at a particularly high risk of infection.…”

The Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Hepatitis E Virus: Evidence from Seroprevalence Screening of Blood Donations

“…In other studies, HEV seropositivity has been significantly associated with occupational exposure to animals, particularly pigs [ 36 ]. Studies also showed that professional occupations with animal reservoirs such as veterinarians, slaughterhouse and forestry workers and hunters had a higher seroprevalence than the related general population [ 37 – 39 ]. Our finding potentially provides new insights into the risk of occupational exposure to HEV in Malaysia.…”