Katuwal N.Thapa M.Shrestha S.Vaidya K.Bogoch I.I.Shrestha R.Andrews J.R.Tamrakar D.Aiemjoy K.Mahidol University2024-09-152024-09-152024-08-01PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Vol.18 No.8 (2024)19352727https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/101212Background 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.MedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1371/journal.pntd.00123752-s2.0-852014373521935273539102451