Hepatitis E virus in Scottish blood donors

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Epidemiology
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• Hepatitis E virus (HEV) exhibits significant regional prevalence variations globally.
• Blood transfusion has been identified as a potential route for HEV transmission.
• Understanding HEV prevalence in blood donors is crucial for transfusion safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the seroprevalence of HEV IgG and IgM antibodies in Scottish blood donors.
• To investigate the presence of HEV RNA in the Scottish blood supply.
• To assess the potential risk of HEV transmission through blood transfusion in Scotland.

Main Methods:

• Serum samples from 1559 Scottish blood donors were tested for HEV-specific IgG and IgM antibodies.
• Plasma mini-pools (n=43,560 donations) were analyzed for HEV RNA using nested PCR.
• Confirmed HEV RNA-positive samples were sequenced to identify the genotype.

Main Results:

• HEV IgG antibodies were detected in 73 out of 1559 donors (4.7%); no IgM antibodies were found.
• HEV RNA was detected in plasma mini-pools at a frequency of 1 donation in 14,520.
• Sequencing confirmed the presence of HEV genotype 3 in the positive samples.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of HEV IgG and RNA in Scottish blood donors is lower than in other UK regions but warrants further investigation.
• The identified HEV RNA frequency necessitates studies on transmission rates and the impact of HEV infection, particularly in immunocompromised recipients.
• Findings support continued surveillance and potential implementation of HEV screening in blood donations.