PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-E IN A CENTRAL ITALIAN TOWN AT HIGH ENDEMICITY FOR HEPATITIS-C VIRUS

In the spring of 1994, the occurrence of Hepatitis E virus antibodies was evaluated in 653 subjects representing all age-groups in the gener al population of a Central Italian town, where a high hepatitis C viru s prevalence had been reported. The overall anti-HEV prevalence was 2. 6% ranging from 1.4% in the 30-49 age-group to 5.7% (p<0.01) in the 60 -70 age - group; none of the subjects under 30 years of age were posit ive. Sociodemographic variables, such as family size and years of scho oling were not associated with HEV exposure. Anti-HEV positivity was f ound in 1.8% (1/56) of the subiects who were positive for anti-HCV and in 2.7% (16/597) of those who were anti-HCV negative (O.R 1.5; C.I.: 95%= 0.2-11.7). Thus no association was found between HEV and HCV infe ctions. These data suggest a past spread of HEV in this area and under line the occurrence of long-lasting antibodies in infected subjects.