Meat Consumption is a Major Risk Factor for Hepatitis E Virus Infection

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2017 Apr 28

PMID 28448527

Citations 28

Authors

Ed Slot

Hans L Zaaijer

Michel Molier

Katja van den Hurk

Femmeke Prinsze

Boris M Hogema

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The incidence of autochthonous hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV gt3) infections in Western Europe is high. Although pigs are a major reservoir of the virus, the exact sources and transmission route(s) of HEV gt3 to humans remain unclear.

Methods: To determine the role of meat consumption at a population level, the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies was compared between Dutch blood donors with a vegetarian lifestyle and donors who consume meat on a daily basis.

Results: The age-weighted anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence among donors not eating meat was significantly lower than among meat-eating donors (12.4% vs 20.5%, p = 0.002). For both groups the prevalence strongly increased with age and the difference in prevalence was apparent for all age groups.

Conclusions: Compared with meat-eating donors, the incidence of HEV infection is significantly lower among donors not eating meat, indicating that meat consumption is a major risk factor for HEV infection.

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