Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA.
J Infect Dis. 2010 Nov 1;202(9):1302-8. doi: 10.1086/656598.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been recognized as a threat to military forces since its discovery. Although HEV seroprevalence in Afghanistan is not known, HEV infection is thought to be highly endemic in that country. This study determined the incidence of HEV seroconversion among United States (US) service members who were deployed to Afghanistan, as well as the prevalence of antibodies to HEV prior to the deployment.
A random sample of 1500 subjects was selected from the cohort of service members who were deployed to Afghanistan between 2002 and 2006. Predeployment and postdeployment serum samples from these subjects were tested by enzyme immunoassay for total antibodies to HEV. Results. The seroprevalence of antibodies to HEV in US service members prior to deployment was 1.1%. The seroconversion rate among service members deployed to Afghanistan was 0.13%.
Although subpopulations may be at higher risk for HEV exposure during deployment, the risk among US service members deployed to Afghanistan in this study was low. Previously implemented and current preventive measures in theater appear to have been adequate. With future deployments to new areas or changes in military operations in areas of risk, continued surveillance for HEV infection in the military will be warranted.
自戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）被发现以来，它已被认为是对军队的威胁。尽管尚不清楚阿富汗的 HEV 血清流行率，但据认为该国的 HEV 感染高度流行。本研究旨在确定部署到阿富汗的美国（US）军人中 HEV 血清转化率的发生率，以及部署前抗 HEV 抗体的流行率。
从 2002 年至 2006 年期间部署到阿富汗的军人队列中随机抽取 1500 名受试者。对这些受试者的术前和术后血清样本进行酶联免疫吸附试验，检测抗 HEV 总抗体。结果。部署到阿富汗的美国军人在部署前的抗 HEV 抗体血清流行率为 1.1%。部署到阿富汗的军人中血清转化率为 0.13%。
尽管某些人群在部署期间可能面临更高的 HEV 暴露风险，但本研究中部署到阿富汗的美国军人的风险较低。以前在战区实施的和当前的预防措施似乎是充分的。随着未来向新地区的部署或在风险地区的军事行动发生变化，将需要对军队中的 HEV 感染进行持续监测。
