Hepatitis E virus antibody prevalence, RNA frequency, and genotype among blood donors in Cambodia (Southeast Asia)

• DOI: 10.1111/trf.13731
• Publication Date: 2016-08-03T13:24:19Z
• Authors: Janin Nouhin; Sophearot Prak; Yoann Madec; Hubert Barennes; Richard Weissel; Kimcheng Hok; Nicole Pavio; François Rouet
• Keywords: Hepatitis E Virus; Hepatitis E

BACKGROUND Recent studies conducted in developed countries described hepatitis E virus (HEV) as an emerging infectious threat to blood safety. However, data on HEV among donors from southeast Asia are lacking. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Between July and August 2014, we assessed the presence of immunoglobulin (Ig)G IgM 301 Cambodian donors. All samples were further tested for RNA using in‐house reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. ORF2/ORF3 phylogenetic analysis was performed positive specimens. RESULTS We found IgG 28.2% Cambodia. Three with three distinct patterns: IgM(+)/IgG(–)/RNA(–) (n = 1), IgM(+)/IgG(+)/RNA(–) IgM(+)/IgG(+)/RNA(+) 1). Thus, prevalence rates 1.0 0.3%. Interestingly, viremic donor harbored a strain that belonged Genotype 3 (HEV‐3) clustered riverine HEV‐3 isolate. CONCLUSION Due high frequency IgG, conclude is endemic this country. Large‐scale must be considered determine whether donation screening warranted enhance safety regard HEV. In addition, our findings suggest river water may significant source exposure HEV‐3.