PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST HEPATITIS-E VIRUS AMONG URBAN AND RURAL POPULATIONS IN VENEZUELA

Antibodies against hepatitis E virus (HEV) were detected in sera by a synthetic peptide-based enzyme immunoassay (EIA) from different popula tions in Venezuela. Antibodies against HEV were found in 1.6% (3/184) of urban pregnant woman (Caracas), in 3.9% (8/204) of rural population s (San Camilo, Edo Apure), and in 5.4% (12/223) of rural Amerindians ( Padamo, Edo Amazonas). Positivity was confirmed by a neutralization EI A based on the use of competing soluble free peptides. The prevalence of antibodies in the Amerindian group was significantly higher than in urban pregnant women. No relation was found between age and HEV preva lence in rural populations. Three of 21 positive sera were also weakly positive by Western blot for IgM antibodies. This result, together wi th the low optical density values observed by EIA, suggested that the presence of antibodies in these sera reflects past infections. Based o n these results, Venezuela does not seem to be highly endemic for hepa titis E. This is the first report of serological evidence of infection by HEV in South America. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.