This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis E antibodies (anti-HEV) among individuals exposed to swine in the rural areas of the state of Mato Grosso (MT) in Brazil. The study included 310 participants who had an average age of 39 years. Fifty-one per cent of the participants were female and 26 (8.4%) were anti-HEV-positive. Concomitantly, we studied 101 blood donors from the urban area of the state capital who had never lived in a rural area or handled swine. Four per cent (4%) of these individuals were anti-HEV-positive (p = 0.206). When we compared the anti-HEV-positive participants who had been exposed to swine with the anti-HEV-negative participants, we noticed associations between the presence of anti-HEV and increased age, a history of blood transfusions and contact with other farm animals. However, after a multivariate analysis was performed, this association was not confirmed. Finally, the ratio of anti-HEV-positive individuals who had been exposed to swine in rural MT was similar to that found in previous studies in Brazil. This prevalence did not characterise this type of exposure as a risk factor for HEV infection in this region.

Objetivamos discutir a vinculação do Sistema de Informações de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e do Censo Demográfico para conhecer o contexto sócio-ambiental da hepatite A, analisando a contribuição das variáveis ambientais e sócio-demográficas para ocorrência de casos notificados e confirmados da infecção. Também, com base nas informações individuais sobre os casos de hepatite A notificados e confirmados, obtidos no SINAN, discutimos o padrão de endemicidade no Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. No estudo agregado, a unidade de análise foi o setor censitário e as informações do Censo 2000, associadas à localização dos 1.553 casos notificados e confirmados de hepatite A ocorridos na cidade entre 1999-2001. Observou-se um padrão epidemiológico entre alta e média endemicidades, indicando situação menos favorável do que a observada nos estudos soro-epidemiológicos. A média rank do número de domicílios com condições sócio-ambientais desfavoráveis foi maior nos setores censitários de sobre-risco para hepatite A (dois ou mais casos) com significância estatística pelo teste de Mann-Whitney. As variáveis sócio-demográficas mostraram ter maior influência do que as ambientais na ocorrência de casos: maior percentual de pobreza e de menores de cinco anos apresentou as maiores diferenças de médias rank.

This article discusses the linking of data from SINAN (the Reportable Diseases Database) and population census in Brazil to identify the socio-environmental context of hepatitis A, analyzing the contribution by environmental and socio-demographic variables to reported and confirmed cases of hepatitis A. Also, based on individual case data provided by SINAN, we discuss the pattern of hepatitis A endemicity in the city of Rio de Janeiro. At the aggregate level, the unit of analysis was the census tract and census data, associated with the location of 1,553 cases in the city from 1999 to 2001. The observed pattern was high to medium endemicity, indicating a less favorable situation than observed by sero-epidemiological studies. The mean rank of number of households with unfavorable conditions was higher in the census tracts with excess risk of hepatitis A (two or more cases), a statistically significant result according to the Mann-Whitney Test. Socio-demographic variables had more impact than environmental ones (poverty and children in the household less than 5 years of age showed the highest mean ranks).

Objetivamos discutir a vinculação do Sistema de Informações de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) e do Censo Demográfico para conhecer o contexto sócio-ambiental da hepatite A, analisando a contribuição das variáveis ambientais e sócio-demográficas para ocorrência de casos notificados e confirmados da infecção. Também, com base nas informações individuais sobre os casos de hepatite A notificados e confirmados, obtidos no SINAN, discutimos o padrão de endemicidade no Município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. No estudo agregado, a unidade de análise foi o setor censitário e as informações do Censo 2000, associadas à localização dos 1.553 casos notificados e confirmados de hepatite A ocorridos na cidade entre 1999-2001. Observou-se um padrão epidemiológico entre alta e média endemicidades, indicando situação menos favorável do que a observada nos estudos soro-epidemiológicos. A média rank do número de domicílios com condições sócio-ambientais desfavoráveis foi maior nos setores censitários de sobre-risco para hepatite A (dois ou mais casos) com significância estatística pelo teste de Mann-Whitney. As variáveis sócio-demográficas mostraram ter maior influência do que as ambientais na ocorrência de casos: maior percentual de pobreza e de menores de cinco anos apresentou as maiores diferenças de médias rank.

This article discusses the linking of data from SINAN (the Reportable Diseases Database) and population census in Brazil to identify the socio-environmental context of hepatitis A, analyzing the contribution by environmental and socio-demographic variables to reported and confirmed cases of hepatitis A. Also, based on individual case data provided by SINAN, we discuss the pattern of hepatitis A endemicity in the city of Rio de Janeiro. At the aggregate level, the unit of analysis was the census tract and census data, associated with the location of 1,553 cases in the city from 1999 to 2001. The observed pattern was high to medium endemicity, indicating a less favorable situation than observed by sero-epidemiological studies. The mean rank of number of households with unfavorable conditions was higher in the census tracts with excess risk of hepatitis A (two or more cases), a statistically significant result according to the Mann-Whitney Test. Socio-demographic variables had more impact than environmental ones (poverty and children in the household less than 5 years of age showed the highest mean ranks).

A infecção pelo vírus da hepatite E (VHE) ainda não foi detectada entre suínos na região central do Brasil. Com o intuito de avaliar se o VHE circula entre suínos no estado de Mato Grosso, um estudo de soroprevalência foi realizado em suínos de 17 propriedades rurais, correspondentes a 13 municípios. Os animais foram escolhidos aleatoriamente em lotes no momento da chegada para abate em dois frigoríficos entre dezembro de 2002 e fevereiro de 2003. Amostras de soro foram coletadas e testadas para a presença de anticorpos de classe IgG contra o VHE (anti-VHE) por ensaio imuno-enzimático (EIE). Este EIE foi executado utilizando-se duas proteínas recombinantes como antígenos. Uma proteína mosaico (MP-II) e outra proteína contendo a região dos aminoácidos 452 a 617 da ORF2 da cepa Burma do VHE. 211 dos 260 animais examinados eram anti-VHE reativos. A soropositividade não variou com gênero e idade, mas variou entre 15% a 100% de uma propriedade para outra. Nossos resultados apontaram que o VHE parece circular entre suínos do estado de Mato Grosso, sugerindo que o vírus encontra-se disseminado na região, como verificado em outros países ao redor do mundo.

There is no information about evidence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in swines in Central Brazil. In order to assess if HEV circulates in swines of the State of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil, a seroprevalence study was conducted including pigs from 17 farms, corresponding to 13 counties. The animals were randomly chosen among pigs arriving to two slaughterhouses between December 2002 and February 2003. Serum samples were collected and tested for IgG antibodies against HEV (anti-HEV) by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). This EIA uses two HEV recombinant proteins as antigens, a mosaic protein (MP-II) and a protein containing region 452-617 of the ORF2 of the HEV Burma strain as coating antigens. 211 out of 260 pigs (81.2%; 95CI = 75.7%, 85.6%) were anti-HEV reactive. The seropositivity did not vary with gender or age, but ranges from 15% to 100% among the farms. Our results point out that HEV seems to circulate among pigs in Mato Grosso State, suggesting that this virus is spread over the region, as seen in other countries worldwide.

We investigated the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in subjects living in the community of Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and assisted at the Health Unit of Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. After formal consent, individuals were submitted to an interview using a standardized questionnaire. Anti-HAV and anti-HEV antibodies were detected by ELISA. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Epi-Info 6.04b software, to investigate possible associations between serological markers and risk factors. Results were regarded as significant when p value < 0.05. Although a high prevalence of anti-HAV was observed (87%), almost 50% of subjects under the age of 10 were susceptible to HAV infection, an unexpected rate in endemic areas. This fact could be attributed to improvements in environmental sanitation, occurring in this area in the last years. The increasing proportion of susceptible people may result in outbreaks of HAV infection, since the virus still circulates in this area, as verified by the detection of anti-HAV IgM in some individuals. No statistical association was met between HAV infection and the risk factors here assessed. The anti-HEV IgG prevalence found in this population was 2.4%, consistent with the one found in non-endemic areas.