Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A Virus, Hepatitis E Virus, and Helicobacter pylori in Rural Communities of the Bolivian Chaco, 2013

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 May;98(5):1275-1280. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0747. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

Abstract

In the Bolivian Chaco, south-east of Bolivia, studies conducted over the past three decades reported hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Helicobacter pylori seroprevalences above 90% and 60%, respectively. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) prevalence was previously found to be 6-7% but is probably an underestimate because of the poor sensitivity of the assays used. In November 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 263 healthy volunteers from two rural communities of the Bolivian Chaco, aiming to reassess HAV, HEV, and H. pylori seroprevalence 10-20 years following the previous surveys. Hepatitis A virus seroprevalence was 95%, with universal exposure after the first decade of life; HEV seroprevalence was considerably higher (31-35%) than that previously reported; H. pylori seroprevalence was 59%, with an age-dependent distribution. The high prevalence of these infections suggests that major efforts are still needed to reduce fecal-oral transmission and to improve human health in the Bolivian Chaco.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Bolivia
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Helicobacter pylori / immunology*
  • Hepatitis A virus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis E virus / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rural Population
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G