A community prevalence study of antibodies to hepatitis A and E in inner-city London.

The seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) was determined in a community-based sample in innercity London where socioeconomic conditions were expected to result in a high prevalence of antibodies to HAV, and in which the presence of immigrants from the developing world pose a risk of imported infection of both HAV and HEV. The seroprevalence of anti-HAV was 45.1% in UK born subjects and 69.7% in non-UK born subjects and each group showed differing patterns of age-specific seroprevalence. The seroprevalence rates of anti-HEV was 3.9% in UK born subjects and 8.8% in non-UK born subjects. The age-specific seroprevalence of the UK born group is suggestive of a cohort effect. The data suggest a low circulation of HEV in inner-city London, remaining uncommon relative to HAV.