J Prev Med Public Health.  2015 Jan;48(1):53-61. 10.3961/jpmph.14.048.

A Survey on the Status of Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Slaughterhouse Workers in South Korea

• Kim BS
• Lim HS
• Lee K
• Min YS
• Yoon YS
• Jeong HS

• KMID: 2381447
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.14.048

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among high-risk groups overseas is high, but studies in these groups are rare in South Korea. We conducted the present study from April to November 2012 to obtain data on the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for HEV among slaughterhouse workers in South Korea.
METHODS
Slaughterhouse workers from 80 workplaces nationwide were surveyed in South Korea in 2012. The subjects comprised 1848 cases: 1434 slaughter workers and 414 residual products handlers. By visiting 80 slaughterhouses, which were mixed with 75 of which also performed residual products handling, we conducted a questionnaire survey for risk factors and obtained blood samples in order to determine the seropositivity and seroprevalence of HEV. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM were measured using HEV IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunospecific assay kits and HEV antigen was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
RESULTS
The seropositivity of anti-HEV IgG was 33.5% (slaughter workers 32.8% and residual products handlers 36.2%), and among the seropositive individuals the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgM was 0.5% (slaughter workers 0.5%, residual products handlers 0.7%). The response rate of HEV-antigen as measured by RT-PCR was 0.2%. Risk factors significantly related to anti-HEV IgG seropositivity were age, sex , and working duration (slaughter workers only).
CONCLUSIONS
There were significant risk factors (sex, age, and working duration) for HEV identified in our study. All three positive cases for HEV-antigen by RT-PCR were related to pig slaughter but without statistical significance. To prevent HEV, an educational program and working guidelines may be needed for high risk groups.

Keyword

Hepatitis E; Slaughterhouse; Zoonoses; Seroprevalence; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Abattoirs
Adult
Aged
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Hepatitis Antibodies/blood
Hepatitis E/*diagnosis/epidemiology/virology
Hepatitis E virus/genetics/*immunology/metabolism
Humans
Immunoglobulin G/blood
Immunoglobulin M/blood
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Risk Factors
Workplace
Hepatitis Antibodies
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M