Toyoda Kazuhiro, Furusyo Norihiro, Takeoka Hiroaki, Murata Masayuki, Sawayama Yasunori, Hayashi Jun
Department of Environmental Medicine and Infectious Disease, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Dec;23(12):1885-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05568.x.
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in the general population of Japan by determining presence of the antibody to HEV (anti-HEV).
The prevalence of HEV infection was determined by positivity of serum antibody to HEV (anti-HEV).
On retrospective analysis, a significant decrease in anti-HEV prevalence was found in Okinawa healthy residents from 1995 (15.8%) to 2005 (5.5%) (P < 0.0001). In 2005, the anti-HEV prevalence was significantly higher in Okinawa wild boar hunters (25.3%) than in the residents (male 7.7% and female 4.1%) (P < 0.0001). A significant difference was found in the history of consumption of undercooked or raw boar meat between anti-HEV positive and negative hunters (100% vs 64.3%) (P = 0.0018).
In conclusion, the anti-HEV prevalence has decreased in the residents of this area, but HEV infection has continued at a high rate in the hunters through the custom of eating undercooked or raw boar meat.
本研究旨在通过检测戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）抗体（抗-HEV）的存在情况，调查日本普通人群中戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）感染的流行率。
通过血清抗-HEV抗体阳性来确定HEV感染的流行率。
回顾性分析发现，冲绳健康居民中抗-HEV流行率从1995年的15.8%显著下降至2005年的5.5%（P < 0.0001）。2005年，冲绳野猪捕猎者的抗-HEV流行率（25.3%）显著高于居民（男性7.7%，女性4.1%）（P < 0.0001）。抗-HEV阳性和阴性捕猎者之间，食用未煮熟或生野猪肉的历史存在显著差异（100%对64.3%）（P = 0.0018）。
总之，该地区居民的抗-HEV流行率有所下降，但由于食用未煮熟或生野猪肉的习俗，捕猎者中的HEV感染仍以较高比例持续存在。
