RESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is not routinely screened in blood banks in low- and middle-income countries, and no specific biomarkers of exposure to this virus have yet been identified. We aimed to identify HEV seropositivity and detect virus RNA among blood donors from Mexico to further correlate risk factors related to infection and levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) as potential biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, single-center study included 691 serum samples of blood donors obtained in 2019. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in sera and the viral genome was screened in pooled samples. A statistical comparison of risk factors for infection, demographic and clinical features was performed; IL-18 and IFN- γ values were tested in sera. RESULTS: Of all the individuals, 9.4% were positive for anti-HEV antibodies and viral RNA detection was confirmed in one of the pools positive for anti-HEV. From the analysis of risk factors, age and having pets were statistically significant for anti-HEV antibody detection. Seropositive samples showed significantly higher IL-18 concentrations relative to samples from seronegative donors. Interestingly, IL-18 values were similar when HEV seropositive samples were compared to samples from clinically acute previously confirmed HEV patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the need to follow up on HEV in blood banks in Mexico and underscore that IL-18 could represent a biomarker of HEV exposure.
Assuntos
Vírus da Hepatite E , Hepatite E , Humanos , Biomarcadores , Doadores de Sangue , Estudos Transversais , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite , Hepatite E/diagnóstico , Hepatite E/epidemiologia , Vírus da Hepatite E/genética , Imunoglobulina M , Interleucina-18 , México/epidemiologia , RNA Viral , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
The post antiretroviral therapy (ART) era for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection resulted in a dramatically increased proportion of deaths attributed to liver-related causes in patients with HIV treated with ART. Additionally, as patients become older as a result of effective ART, liver-related conditions and application of safe therapies are now major concerns in the setting of HIV infection.
