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High prevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies among blood donors in Southern Brazil
Author(s) -
PassosCastilho Ana Maria,
de Sena Anne,
Geraldo Alexandre,
Spada Celso,
Granato Celso F.H.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.24336
Subject(s) - seroprevalence , hepatitis e virus , serology , hepatitis e , virology , antibody , medicine , biology , genotype , immunology , biochemistry , gene
Brazil has been classified as moderately endemic for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. However, data on the seroprevalence of HEV in this region are limited. This study evaluated the prevalence of past or present HEV infection among blood donors in the metropolitan area of Itajai Valley, Southern Brazil, a region of predominant German heritage, where cultural habits result in a high consumption of pork. Serum samples from 300 blood donors were tested in December 2014 using serological and molecular methods. Anti‐HEV IgG antibodies were detected in 30 (10%) subjects, and categorized age groups revealed an age‐dependent increase of HEV seroprevalence. Only one subject had anti‐HEV IgM, whereas none tested positive for HEV‐RNA. The present data demonstrate a higher seroprevalence of anti‐HEV IgG in blood donors than previously reported in Brazil. J. Med. Virol. 88:361–364, 2016 . © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.