A Special Risk Group for Hepatitis E Infection: The First Record of North Cyprus

Abstract

A b s t r a c tHepatitis E virus (HEV) is transmitted by a fecal oral route from animals to humans following exposure to the body fluids of infected animals. We investigated the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis E (anti-HEV) antibodies by monitoring IgG and IgM virus antibodies amongst employees in the animal industry in North Cyprus through a cross-sectional study. Samples were taken from individuals without occupational exposure to animals and from those who worked with animals (doing animal husbandry, veterinary work or butchery). Enzymelinked immunoassays were used to detect anti-HEV IgG and IgM in the blood samples. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies was 3.0% (12/400), while the prevalence of anti-HEV IgM antibodies was 0.25% (1/400). The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG amongst the samples received from females was approximately 2.5-fold higher than samples received from males (2.4%). Anti-HEV IgG was detected amongst 7% of animal husbandry workers and amongst 2% of veterinarians and butchers. The current findings represent the first records of HEV surveillance in Cyprus. We investigated the seroprevalence of anti-HEV by monitoring IgG and IgM virus antibodies amongst employees.

Hepatitis E Virus Infection and Butchers: A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study

“…This finding further supports that occupational exposure to meat does not represent a high risk for HEV infection in our setting. In a study in Cyprus, researchers also found a low seroprevalence of HEV in butchers and veterinarians (2%) [26].…”

“…This finding further supports that occupational exposure to meat does not represent a high risk for HEV infection in our setting. In a study in Cyprus, researchers also found a low seroprevalence of HEV in butchers and veterinarians (2%) [ 26 ]. In contrast, our results conflict with those reported in a study in Portugal where researchers found a higher seroprevalence of HEV infection in workers occupationally exposed to swine (slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians, butchers and pig farmers) than control individuals from the general population [ 27 ].…”

Rodent‐borne viruses in the region of Middle East

“…68 Although the seroprevalence of HEV is very low in Cyprus, anti-HEV IgG has been detected in farmers who used to have direct contact with animals with most of the positive results in Famagusta. 69 The majority of the previous cases occurred in animal farms, the same place where rodents are likely to be found and HEV-3 exists. For example, a Swedish study reported that HEV-3 was detected in 77% of the investigated pig farms.…”

“…And most recently, two HEV‐3 viraemias have been identified in Turkish patients 68 . Although the seroprevalence of HEV is very low in Cyprus, anti‐HEV IgG has been detected in farmers who used to have direct contact with animals with most of the positive results in Famagusta 69 . The majority of the previous cases occurred in animal farms, the same place where rodents are likely to be found and HEV‐3 exists.…”