Hepatitis E virus in the Kathmandu Valley: Insights from a representative longitudinal serosurvey
Issued Date
2024-08-01
Resource Type
ISSN
19352727
eISSN
19352735
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85201437352
Pubmed ID
39102451
Journal Title
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume
18
Issue
8
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Vol.18 No.8 (2024)
Suggested Citation
Katuwal N., Thapa M., Shrestha S., Vaidya K., Bogoch I.I., Shrestha R., Andrews J.R., Tamrakar D., Aiemjoy K. Hepatitis E virus in the Kathmandu Valley: Insights from a representative longitudinal serosurvey. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Vol.18 No.8 (2024). doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0012375 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/101212
Title
Hepatitis E virus in the Kathmandu Valley: Insights from a representative longitudinal serosurvey
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background Hepatitis-E virus (HEV), an etiologic agent of acute inflammatory liver disease, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in South Asia. HEV is considered endemic in Nepal; but data on population-level infection transmission is sparse. Methods We conducted a longitudinal serosurvey in central Nepal to assess HEV exposure. At each visit, capillary blood samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies. The study took place between February 2019 and April 2021, with up to 4 visits per participant approximately 6 months apart. Results We collected 2513 samples from 923 participants aged 0–25 years, finding a seroprevalence of 4.8% and a seroincidence rate of 10.9 per 1000 person-years. Young adults and individuals consuming surface water faced the highest incidence of infection. Geospatial analysis identified potential HEV clusters, suggesting a need for targeted interventions. Significance Our findings demonstrate that HEV is endemic in Nepal and that the risk of infection increases with age.