Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus among blood donors in Qatar (2013‐2016)
- 28 April 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Transfusion
- Vol. 57 (7), 1801-1807
- https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.14116
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus transmitted mainly through zoonotic transmission or fecal–oral route. More than 80% of Qatar's population are expatriates, including many coming from hyperendemic countries; thus, it is important to estimate the seroprevalence and to compare between different nationalities. The results can be useful in alerting blood banks to the importance of HEV screening. Samples from 5854 blood donations provided by Hamad Medical Corporation were tested in the period between June 2013 to June 2016. Samples were tested for the presence of anti-HEV immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM antibodies and viral RNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used. Anti-HEV seroprevalence was 20.7%. A total of 1198 and 38 donations tested positive for IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Of the IgM-positive donations four tested positive by PCR. A significant association was detected between HEV seroprevalence with age and nationality. The seroprevalence of anti-HEV was high in Qatar. Since HEV IgM and RNA were detected, this suggests the possibility of HEV transmission by transfusion. Blood banks in Qatar and the region should consider screening for HEV, especially when transfusion is intended to pregnant women or immunocompromised patients.Funding Information
- Qatar University
- Qatar National Research Fund (UREP19-013-3-001)
This publication has 33 references indexed in Scilit:
- Autochthonous Infections with Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 4, FranceEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2012
- Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies in Blood Donors, FranceEmerging Infectious Diseases, 2011
- Discovery of hepatitis E: The epidemic non-A, non-B hepatitis 30 years down the memory laneVirus Research, 2011
- Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence among Blood Donors in Southwest SwitzerlandPLOS ONE, 2011
- Hepatitis E: Historical, contemporary and future perspectivesJournal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2011
- The Two Faces of Hepatitis E VirusClinical Infectious Diseases, 2010
- Hepatitis E in Qatar imported by expatriate workers from Nepal: Epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestationsJournal of Medical Virology, 2009
- Hepatitis E: a complex and global diseaseEmerging Health Threats Journal, 2008
- Hepatitis E virus infection in haemodialysis patients: A case‐control study in Saudi ArabiaJournal of Medical Virology, 2002
- Hepatitis E—An important cause of imported non-A, non-B hepatitis among migrant workers in QatarJournal of Medical Virology, 1994