Hepatitis E virus immunoglobulin G antibodies in different populations in Campinas, Brazil

The seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies was investiga ted by enzyme immunoassay in 205 volunteer blood donors, 214 women who atte nded a center for anonymous testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and 170 hospital employees in Campinas, a city in southeastern B razil, The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies ranged from 2.6% (3 of 117) in health care professionals to 17.7% (38 of 214) in women who considered the mselves at risk for HN. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in health car e professionals was not significantly different from that in healthy blood donors (3.0%, 5 of 165) and blood donors with raised alanine aminotransfera se levels (7.5%, 3 of 40). The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies (13.2%, 7 of 53) in cleaning service workers at a University hospital was similar to that among women at risk for HIV infection. These results suggest that HEV is circulating in southeastern Brazil and that low socioeconomic status is an important risk factor for HEV infection in this region.