The prevalence of antibodies to the hepatitis E virus (HEV) was measured in a group of 129 adults from Bujumbura, Burundi, using an ELISA. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was 14%, much lower than that of hepatitis A virus (HAV) (97.7%). In addition to the lability of antibodies to HEV, this difference might be explained by the extensive availability of good-quality drinking water in the city. The presence of serologic markers of HBV (77.6%), HCV (27.1%), and human immunodeficiency virus (30.2%) was not associated with that of anti-HEV.
PIP: The seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) was measured through use of data from a 1992-93 case-control study of patients with chronic liver diseases conducted at Kamenge University Hospital in Bujumbura, Burundi. 97.7% of subjects were anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV)-positive. In contrast, the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG was only 14%. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were as follows: HBV surface antigen, 4.7%; antibody to HBV surface antigen, 55.8%; and antibody to HBV core antigen, 65.1%. The prevalence for all 3 HBV markers combined was 77.6%. No seropositivity was found for anti-hepatitis D virus among subjects positive for HBV surface antigen (4.7%) or for antibody to HBV core antigen (17.1%). 27.1% were anti-hepatitis C virus-positive. The prevalence of HIV was 30.2%. The presence of serologic markers of hepatitis A, B, and C virus was not associated with that of antibody to hepatitis E or HIV. Previous studies have found high rates of HEV in areas that have experienced high rainfall and flooding. The relatively low rate of HEV recorded in this study may reflect the fact that most Bujumbura residents use drinking water pumped from the middle of Lake Tanganyika and piped to taps near homes.