Viruses (Oct 2023)

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

  • Le Chi Cao,
  • Vanessa Martin,
  • Le Thi Kieu Linh,
  • Tran Thi Giang,
  • Ngo Thi Minh Chau,
  • Ton Nu Phuong Anh,
  • Vu Xuan Nghia,
  • Nguyen Trong The,
  • Truong Nhat My,
  • Bui Tien Sy,
  • Nguyen Linh Toan,
  • Le Huu Song,
  • C.-Thomas Bock,
  • Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v15102075
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 10
p. 2075

Abstract

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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.

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