Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus among primary school children

Objectives: to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis e virus antibody among primary school children in the two different areas of denizli, turkey. methodology: anti-hev antibodies were investigated in 185 primary school children (91 from rural areas and 94 from urban areas of denizli). the children were divided into two age groups as seven-year old group and fourteen-year old group. samples were tested for anti-hev ab by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. results: a total of 23 primary school children were anti-hev ab positive, giving a prevalence of 12.4%. the seroprevalence rate was 13.1% in rural areas and 11.7% in urban areas. the difference in the seropositive rates was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). among 185 primary school children, anti-hev antibodies were positive 17 (18.1%) in seven-year old group, and 6 (6.6%) in fourteen-year old group. the difference in the seropositive rates was statistically significant (p < 0.05). conclusions: there was no association between the anti-hev ab and gender, socioeconomic level, parental educational level, rural or urban areas. anti-hev ab seroprevalence was higher in seven-year old children than fourteen-year old children.