HEPATITIS-E SEROPREVALENCE IN SELECTED INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTH-AFRICA

Antibodies to the hepatitis E virus (HEV) were detected by an enzyme i mmunoassay using synthetic HEV peptides. Positive anti-HEV results wer e confirmed by a neutralization assay and Western blot analysis. Anti- HEV was detected in 10 of 555 canoeists (1.8%) with regular exposure t o sewage-polluted water and in 6 of 227 (2.6%) medical students with m inimal exposure. The overall prevalence of 16 per 782 individuals (2.0 5%) suggests that HEV may be endemic in South Africa. This is confirme d by indications of infection earlier than the third decade of life, a nd by individuals with anti-HEV who had rarely or never been out of th e country. The prevalence data suggest that regular exposure to sewage -polluted water was not a particular risk factor. None of the individu als with anti-HEV had a history of clinical hepatitis E, suggesting sp oradic low level subclinical cases of infection. This is in agreement with the absence of reports on clinical cases or outbreaks of hepatiti s E in South Africa. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.