Abstract
Summary: A cross-sectional study of the association between occupational pig exposure and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in adult pig farmers and the general population who were not directly exposed to pigs was conducted in Nan Province, Thailand, from November 2010 to April 2011. All participants were interviewed to provide information on their job history, eating habits and other potential confounders. The prevalence of anti-HEV immunoglobulin G antibodies (IgG) among 513 subjects was 23.0%. Hand washing with water and soap was associated with a lower seroprevalence of HEV infection, whereas living in an area with frequent flooding (OR 1.64, 95% CI: 1.00-2.68) and consuming internal pig organs more than twice per week (OR 3.23, 95%CI: 1.15-9.01) were both associated with a higher seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG. There was no association between HEV seroprevalence and frequent, direct occupational pig contact.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 555-562 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Zoonoses and Public Health |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2013 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Cross-sectional study
- Hepatitis E virus
- Occupational exposure
- Swine
- Thailand
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- General Immunology and Microbiology
- General Veterinary
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Infectious Diseases