Prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis E virus infection among Bactrian camel herders in Bayankhongor province, Mongolia

Background and Aim:Hepatitis E virus (HEV) poses a global public health concern. HEV has a single serotype and 8 genotypes. There is inadequate knowledge about risk factors and zoonotic transmission pathways of hepatitis E virus in Mongolia, although the prevalence of HEV is, on average, 12% among the Mongolian population. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of HEV G8 infection in Bayankhongor province, Mongolia. Materials and Methods: Human serum samples (309) were collected in Bogd, Bayangovi, and Bayanlig districts of Bayankhongor province, Mongolia, with a control group consisting of non-camel herders. An in-house indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to detect anti-HEV IgG. The interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to gather the data. The assessment factors included age, sex, and occupation for the respondents. Univariate analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26. The same population was tested for hepatitis B and C viruses (HBVs and HCVs) using rapid tests. Results: Of 309 samples, 41 (13.3%) tested positive for anti-HEV immunoglobulin G antibodies, 23 (7.4%) for HBV and 11 (3.6%) for HCV. HEV seropositivity was linked with water supply, khoormog consumption, and co-infection with HBV and HCV. Conclusion: HEV prevalence among Bayankhongor residents underscores potential transmission routes related to water supply and khoormog consumption, emphasizing the need for sequencing from human positive sera of HEV and preventive measures. We did not conduct the genotyping of positive human samples. Keywords: Bactrian camel herder, genotype 8, hepatitis E virus, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, seroprevalence.