Hepatitis E seroprevalence and associated risk factors in Croatian liver transplant recipients

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Anna Mrzljak, Petra Dinjar-Kujundzic, Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek, Lorena Jemersic, Jelena Prpic, Oktavija Dakovic-Rode, Branko Kolaric, Adriana Vince
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2019
• Subjects: Hepatitis E vírus; Seroprevalence; Risk factors; Liver transplant recipientes; Croatia; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0302-2019; https://doaj.org/article/429ec0feadbe4a4ca80ff5daae7c627b

Abstract INTRODUCTION Solid-organ transplant recipients are at risk of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. We analyzed the seroprevalence/risk factors of HEV in Croatian liver transplant recipients. METHODS Two hundred forty-two serum samples were tested for HEV immunoglobuline IgG/IgM and HEV RNA. Sociodemographic data and risk factors were collected using a questionnaire. RESULTS HEV IgG seroprevalence rate was 24.4%. Positive/equivocal HEV IgM were found in two patients. HEV RNA was not detected. Logistic regression showed that older age, female gender, rural area/farm, water well, and septic tank were associated with HEV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a high exposure rate to HEV in Croatian liver recipients.