Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus infection in psychiatric patients and control subjects in Shandong Province, eastern China

•A case-control study to determine the association of HEV infection and psychiatric disorders.•Psychiatric patients have a higher HEV prevalence than control subjects.•HEV seroprevalences in patients of different psychiatric disorders were significantly different.•Sex, age, contact with dog and cat and exposure with soil are risk factors for HEV infection.

SummaryObjectiveHepatitis E, caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV), is an important global public health concern. There are conflicting reports in regard to the association of HEV infection and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, we investigated this association in a Chinese population through a case–control seroprevalence study.MethodsA case–control study of 445 psychiatric patients and 445 control subjects was conducted between June 2011 and July 2013 to estimate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors associated with acquiring HEV infection in psychiatric patients in China. Demographic and clinical data and blood samples were collected, and anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by ELISA method.ResultsThe prevalence of anti-HEV IgG in psychiatric patients (27.19%) was higher than that in healthy controls (19.55%) (p = 0.07). In addition, there were significant differences in seroprevalences of HEV infection according to the type of psychiatric disorder. Sex, age, contact with dogs and cats, and exposure to soil were found to be risk factors for HEV infection.ConclusionsPsychiatric patients have a higher prevalence of HEV infection than control subjects in China. Considering the promotion of public health, psychiatric patients should be considered a specific group of HEV infection.