title: Hepatitis E virus infection in patients on dialysis and in solid organ transplant recipients in Argentina: exploring associated risk factors.
abstract: Infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) leads to acute hepatitis infection in immunocompetent hosts. HEV genotype 3 can present with high frequency and lead to chronic infection in individuals with a compromised immune system. The risk factors related to increased seroprevalence or chronicity in this population are not entirely understood. Moreover, most studies addressing risk factors for HEV in non-endemic areas come from developed areas such as North America and Europe. In this study we evaluated seroprevalence, chronicity and risk factors for HEV in 120 transplant recipients and 88 patients on dialysis in Argentina. We found a significantly higher seroprevalence of HEV IgG in those undergoing dialysis compared with healthy controls (10.2% and 4.3% respectively, p = 0.03). No difference in HEV seroprevalence was observed between healthy controls and transplant recipients (5.8%). We found no association between previously identified risk factors for HEV, such as pork consumption or use of tacrolimus, and HEV seroprevalence. In univariate and multivariate analyses, consumption of fish was associated with higher seroprevalence of HEV (OR = 9.33; 95% CI: 2.07-42.2; p = 0.04). None of the samples showed HEV RNA amplification, indicating that chronicity does not seem to be an issue in these cohorts. Our results show increased seroprevalence of HEV in individuals undergoing dialysis but not in transplant recipients. We also found that fish consumption can be a potential risk factor for acquiring HEV.
authors.affiliation: Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, CONICET, National University of Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina. mbelenpisano@gmail.com.|Department of Virology, School of Chemical Sciences, Catholic University of Córdoba, Av. Armada Argentina, 3555, Córdoba, Argentina. mbelenpisano@gmail.com.
authors.forename: María Belén
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department. Private Hospital of Córdoba. University Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Córdoba, Av. Naciones Unidas 346, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balderramo
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, School of Chemical Sciences, Catholic University of Córdoba, Av. Armada Argentina, 3555, Córdoba, Argentina.|Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, LACE Laboratories, Av. Vélez Sársfield 528, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Maribel Martínez
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wassaf
authors.affiliation: Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, CONICET, National University of Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lotto
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department. Private Hospital of Córdoba. University Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Córdoba, Av. Naciones Unidas 346, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carlino
authors.affiliation: Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, CONICET, National University of Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gómez s/n, 5016, Córdoba, Argentina.|Department of Virology, School of Chemical Sciences, Catholic University of Córdoba, Av. Armada Argentina, 3555, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Viviana Elizabeth
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ré
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, 2001 6th St. SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: José D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Debes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies