title: Unusual serological response to hepatitis E virus in plasma donors consistent with re-infection.
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV)-positive plasma donations, identified by a plasma mini-pool screening approach, were analysed using serological methods for the presence of anti-HEV IgM and IgG. Avidity testing was performed on the IgG-reactive donations. Anti-HEV IgG with high avidity was observed in two donors together with high viral loads, but with the absence of anti-HEV IgM. These data are suggestive of re-infection in a small proportion of plasma donors, which has not previously been reported.
authors.affiliation: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Baylis
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crossan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany.|German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Corman
authors.affiliation: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blümel
authors.affiliation: Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scobie
authors.affiliation: Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Truro, UK.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Dalton
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001782:Blood Donors; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: HEV; NAT testing; avidity; reinfection