High Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Seroprevalence and No Evidence of HEV Viraemia in Vietnamese Blood Donors

Abstract

The prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the Vietnamese population remains underestimated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence of HEV IgG/IgM antibodies and the presence of HEV RNA in blood donors as a part of epidemiological surveillance for transfusion-transmitted viruses. Serum samples from blood donors (n = 553) were analysed for markers of past (anti-HEV IgG) and recent/ongoing (anti-HEV IgM) HEV infections. In addition, all serum samples were subsequently tested for HEV RNA positivity. The overall prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was 26.8% (n = 148/553), while the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgM was 0.5% (n = 3/553). Anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence in male and female donors was similar (27.1% and 25.5%, respectively). A higher risk of hepatitis E exposure was observed with increasing age. None of the blood donors were HEV RNA positive, and there was no evidence of HEV viraemia. Although the absence of HEV viraemia in blood donors from Northern Vietnam is encouraging, further epidemiological surveillance in other geographical regions is warranted to rule out transfusion-transmitted HEV.

Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Voluntary Blood Donors in the Russian Federation

“…However, in some countries, where the virus is either endemic or non-endemic, HEV RNA was not detected in plasma samples from blood donors despite significant levels of seropositivity in the studied cohorts [ 27 , 28 ]. Indeed, differences in the frequency of detection of HEV viremia in donors can be explained by objective differences in the prevalence of HEV infection in the general population in a given territory.…”

Characterization of zoonotic hepatitis E virus in domestic pigs and wild boar in Vietnam: Implications for public health

“…Several surveillance campaigns for HEV in animals and high-risk groups have been conducted in the Southern and Northern regions, revealing the circulation of genotypes 3 and 4 in domestic pigs [ 15 , 16 ]. Seroprevalence studies have reported HEV- IgG positivity ranging from 8% in pregnant women [ 11 ] to 27% in blood donors [ 17 ] and 53% in individuals exposed to pigs [ 18 ], highlighting a significant exposure in the Vietnamese population. Pigs comprised the largest proportion of livestock in Vietnam, accounting for 67% (23 million) in 2021 and 74% (25 million) in 2022 [ 19 ].…”