Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to hepatitis E in urban and rural southern India

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of sporadic and epidemic hepatitis E infection in northern India. Sera, collected from different age groups in rural (n=1144) and urban (n=1135) areas using a probability proportional to size survey, were tested using an ELISA for IgG antibodies. Antibodies increased with age in both populations, but the urban population had higher exposure in all age groups (Mann-Whitney U test, P<0.001 for all age groups except children <5 years). These results indicate that urban populations with higher density and common water supplies may be at greater risk of hepatitis E.