Prevalence and risks of hepatitis E virus infection in blood donors from the Western Cape, South Africa.
Vox Sang
; 115(8): 695-702, 2020 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32597542
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a potential risk to recipients of blood transfusions. Infection with HEV poses a high risk to immunocompromised recipients with an increased likelihood of developing chronic infection. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of past and active HEV infections in donors from the Western Cape and to identify the risk factors associated with infection. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
We prospectively tested 10 250 blood donors for HEV infection. A risk factor sub-study investigated 250 donors who completed a questionnaire, and plasma samples were tested for HEV IgG antibodies and pooled for HEV RNA detection. The demographic and risk factors associated with HEV infection were assessed. The molecular study tested 10 000 individual donations using a commercial assay to detect viraemia. HEV viral load and genotype were also determined.RESULTS:
The overall anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence was 42·8% (107/250) among donors participating in the risk factor sub-study. The likelihood of past HEV infection was higher with an increase in age. Of the 10 000 donor samples individually tested for HEV RNA, one sample was positive with a viral load of 7·9 x 104 IU/ml and belonged to HEV genotype 3.CONCLUSION:
We found a high seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG but a low HEV RNA prevalence among donors in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study provides evidence for a potential risk of HEV contamination in the blood supply in South Africa. A cost-benefit analysis is needed before considering the introduction of routine donor screening in our setting.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Viremia
/
RNA Viral
/
Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite
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Hepatite E
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Vox Sang
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
África do Sul