Transfusion of plasma from a blood donor induced hepatitis E in Rhesus monkey.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is normally transmitted via the faeco-oral route. The possibility that the infection might be transmissible by blood has been suggested. Direct evidence of blood-borne transmission of hepatitis E infection is, however, absent.


METHODS
In this report, 10 ml of plasma obtained from a healthy, but hepatitis E viraemic, blood donor was transfused to a Rhesus monkey.


RESULTS
Acute hepatitis E developed following transfusion of blood from the hepatitis E viraemic donor. This was confirmed by virological, immunological, biochemical and histopathological data.


CONCLUSIONS
These results, combined with other epidemiological findings previously reported, indicate that transfusion-associated hepatitis E can occur. The risk of transfusion-associated HEV infection in endemic areas should be assessed and strategies developed to reduce it.
Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Cell Biology and Tumor Cell Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China. nsxia@jingxian.xmu.edu.cn
N-S
NS
Xia
J
J
Zhang
Y-J
YJ
Zheng
S-X
SX
Ge
X-Z
XZ
Ye
S-H
SH
Ou
D000818:Animals; D001782:Blood Donors; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014766:Viremia / Q000635:transmission