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Katuwal N, Thapa M, Shrestha S, Vaidya K, Bogoch II, Shrestha R, Andrews JR, Tamrakar D, Aiemjoy K. Hepatitis E virus in the Kathmandu Valley: Insights from a representative longitudinal serosurvey. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012375. [PMID: 39102451 PMCID: PMC11326703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis-E virus (HEV), an etiologic agent of acute inflammatory liver disease, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in South Asia. HEV is considered endemic in Nepal; but data on population-level infection transmission is sparse. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal serosurvey in central Nepal to assess HEV exposure. At each visit, capillary blood samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies. The study took place between February 2019 and April 2021, with up to 4 visits per participant approximately 6 months apart. RESULTS We collected 2513 samples from 923 participants aged 0-25 years, finding a seroprevalence of 4.8% and a seroincidence rate of 10.9 per 1000 person-years. Young adults and individuals consuming surface water faced the highest incidence of infection. Geospatial analysis identified potential HEV clusters, suggesting a need for targeted interventions. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings demonstrate that HEV is endemic in Nepal and that the risk of infection increases with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishan Katuwal
- Research and Development Division, Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Surveillance, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | - Melina Thapa
- Research and Development Division, Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Surveillance, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | - Sony Shrestha
- Research and Development Division, Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | - Krista Vaidya
- Research and Development Division, Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, United States of America
| | - Isaac I Bogoch
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rajeev Shrestha
- Research and Development Division, Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Surveillance, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
- Department of Pharmacology, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | - Jason R Andrews
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Dipesh Tamrakar
- Research and Development Division, Dhulikhel Hospital Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Surveillance, Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital, Dhulikhel, Nepal
- Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Nepal
| | - Kristen Aiemjoy
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, California, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Mahidol University Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Bangkok, Thailand
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Dighe A, Khan AI, Bhuiyan TR, Islam MT, Khan ZH, Khan II, Hulse JD, Ahmed S, Rashid M, Hossain MZ, Rashid R, Hegde ST, Gurley ES, Qadri F, Azman AS. Annual risk of hepatitis E virus infection and seroreversion: Insights from a serological cohort in Sitakunda, Bangladesh. Epidemiol Infect 2024; 152:e52. [PMID: 38497497 PMCID: PMC11022260 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268824000438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute jaundice in South Asia. Gaps in our understanding of transmission are driven by non-specific symptoms and scarcity of diagnostics, impeding rational control strategies. In this context, serological data can provide important proxy measures of infection. We enrolled a population-representative serological cohort of 2,337 individuals in Sitakunda, Bangladesh. We estimated the annual risks of HEV infection and seroreversion both using serostatus changes between paired serum samples collected 9 months apart, and by fitting catalytic models to the age-stratified cross-sectional seroprevalence. At baseline, 15% (95 CI: 14-17%) of people were seropositive, with seroprevalence highest in the relatively urban south. During the study, 27 individuals seroreverted (annual seroreversion risk: 15%, 95 CI: 10-21%), and 38 seroconverted (annual infection risk: 3%, 95CI: 2-5%). Relying on cross-sectional seroprevalence data alone, and ignoring seroreversion, underestimated the annual infection risk five-fold (0.6%, 95 CrI: 0.5-0.6%). When we accounted for the observed seroreversion in a reversible catalytic model, infection risk was more consistent with measured seroincidence. Our results quantify HEV infection risk in Sitakunda and highlight the importance of accounting for seroreversion when estimating infection incidence from cross-sectional seroprevalence data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Dighe
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Juan Dent Hulse
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shakeel Ahmed
- Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Mamunur Rashid
- Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Md Zakir Hossain
- Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Rumana Rashid
- Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Sonia T. Hegde
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Emily S. Gurley
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Firdausi Qadri
- Infectious Disease Division, icddr, b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Andrew S. Azman
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Geneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
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3
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Hadj Hassine I, Ben M'hadheb M, Almalki MA, Gharbi J. Virus-like particles as powerful vaccination strategy against human viruses. Rev Med Virol 2024; 34:e2498. [PMID: 38116958 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, viruses are not only seen as causative agents of viral infectious diseases but also as valuable research materials for various biomedical purposes, including recombinant protein production. When expressed in living or cell-free expression systems, viral structural proteins self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs). Mimicking the native form and size of viruses and lacking the genetic material, VLPs are safe and highly immunogenic and thus can be exploited to develop antiviral vaccines. Some vaccines based on VLPs against various infectious pathogens have already been licenced for human use and are available in the commercial market, the latest of which is a VLP-based vaccine to protect against the novel Coronavirus. Despite the success and popularity of VLP subunit vaccines, many more VLPs are still in different stages of design, production, and approval. There are still many challenges that require to be addressed in the future before this surface display system can be widely used as an effective vaccine strategy in combating infectious diseases. In this review, we highlight the use of structural viral proteins to produce VLPs, emphasising their intrinsic properties, structural classification, and main expression host systems. We also compiled the recent scientific literature about VLP-based vaccines to underline the recent advances in their application as a vaccine strategy for preventing and fighting virulent human pathogens. Finally, we presented the key challenges and possible solutions for VLP-based vaccine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ikbel Hadj Hassine
- Virology and Antiviral Strategies Research Unit UR17ES30, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- USCR-SAG Unit, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastirs, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Manel Ben M'hadheb
- Virology and Antiviral Strategies Research Unit UR17ES30, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia
- USCR-SAG Unit, Higher Institute of Biotechnology, University of Monastirs, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Mohammed A Almalki
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawhar Gharbi
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Golkocheva-Markova E, Ismailova C, Kevorkyan A, Raycheva R, Zhelyazkova S, Kotsev S, Pishmisheva M, Rangelova V, Stoyanova A, Yoncheva V, Tenev T, Gladnishka T, Trifonova I, Christova I, Dimitrov R, Bruni R, Ciccaglione AR. Age and Gender Trends in the Prevalence of Markers for Hepatitis E Virus Exposure in the Heterogeneous Bulgarian Population. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1345. [PMID: 37374127 DOI: 10.3390/life13061345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the Bulgarian population remains underestimated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate age and gender trends in HEV prevalence in the heterogeneous Bulgarian population. Stored serum samples from blood donors and different patient sub-populations-kidney recipients (KR), patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), Lyme disease (LD), patients with liver involvement and a clinical diagnosis other than viral hepatitis A and E (non-AE), hemodialysis (HD) and HIV-positive patients (HIV)-were retrospectively investigated for markers of past and recent/ongoing HEV infection. The estimated overall seroprevalence of past infection was 10.6%, ranging from 5.9% to 24.5% for the sub-populations evaluated, while the seroprevalence of recent/ongoing HEV infection was 7.5%, ranging from 2.1% to 20.4%. The analysis of the individual sub-populations showed a different prevalence with respect to sex. In regard to age, the cohort effect was preserved, as a multimodal pattern was observed only for the GBS sub-population. Molecular analysis revealed HEV 3f and 3e. The type of the population is one of the main factors on which the anti-HEV prevalence depends, highlighting the need for the development of guidelines related to the detection and diagnosis of HEV infection with regard to specific patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova
- NRL Hepatitis Viruses, Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Chiydem Ismailova
- NRL Hepatitis Viruses, Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ani Kevorkyan
- Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Ralitsa Raycheva
- Department of Social Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Sashka Zhelyazkova
- Clinic of Nervous Diseases, University Hospital "Alexandrovska", Medical University, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Stanislav Kotsev
- Department Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital, 4400 Pazardzhik, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Pishmisheva
- Department Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital, 4400 Pazardzhik, Bulgaria
| | - Vanya Rangelova
- Department of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Asya Stoyanova
- NRL Enteroviruses, Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Viliana Yoncheva
- NRL Hepatitis Viruses, Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Tencho Tenev
- NRL Hepatitis Viruses, Department of Virology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Teodora Gladnishka
- NRL of Vector-Borne Infections, Listeria and Leptospires, Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Iva Trifonova
- NRL of Vector-Borne Infections, Listeria and Leptospires, Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Iva Christova
- NRL of Vector-Borne Infections, Listeria and Leptospires, Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Roumen Dimitrov
- Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Roberto Bruni
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
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5
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Lynch JA, Lim JK, Asaga PEP, Wartel TA, Marti M, Yakubu B, Rees H, Talaat K, Kmush B, Aggarwal R, Ciglenecki I, Gurley E, Labrique AB. Hepatitis E vaccine-Illuminating the barriers to use. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0010969. [PMID: 36602994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Melanie Marti
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Beno Yakubu
- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria
| | - Helen Rees
- Wits RHI, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kawsar Talaat
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brittany Kmush
- Department of Public Health, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America
| | - Rakesh Aggarwal
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India
| | | | - Emily Gurley
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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6
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Zhou YH, Zhao H. Immunobiology and Host Response to HEV. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1417:93-118. [PMID: 37223861 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-1304-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) usually causes acute self-limiting hepatitis but sometimes leads to chronic infection in immunocompromised persons. HEV is not directly cytopathic. Immunologically mediated events after HEV infection are believed to play important roles in the pathogenesis and clearance of infection. The anti-HEV antibody responses have been largely clarified since the determination of major antigenic determinant of HEV, which is located in the C-terminal portion of ORF2. This major antigenic determinant also forms the conformational neutralization epitopes. Robust anti-HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG responses usually develop 3-4 weeks after infection in experimentally infected nonhuman primates. In humans, potent specific IgM and IgG responses occur in the very early phase of the disease and are critical in eliminating the virus, in concert with the innate and adaptive T-cell immune responses. Testing anti-HEV IgM is valuable in the diagnosis of acute hepatitis E. The long-term persistence and protection of anti-HEV IgG provide the basis for estimating the prevalence of HEV infection and for the development of a hepatitis E vaccine. Although human HEV has four genotypes, all the viral strains are considered to belong to a single serotype. It is becoming increasingly clear that the innate and adaptive T-cell immune responses play critical roles in the clearance of the virus. Potent and multispecific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to the ORF2 protein occur in patients with acute hepatitis E, and weaker HEV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses appear to be associated with chronic hepatitis E in immunocompromised individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hua Zhou
- Departments of Experimental Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Zhao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Hospital of Nanjing, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, China
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7
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Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Cancer Patients. Transplant Cell Ther 2022; 28:788.e1-788.e5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2022.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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8
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Golkocheva-Markova E, Kevorkyan A, Raycheva R, Ismailova C, Yoncheva V, Tenev T, Emilova R, Grigorova L, Baltadzhiev I, Komitova R. Assessment of hepatitis E seropositivity among HIV-infected patients in Bulgaria. Braz J Infect Dis 2022; 26:102329. [PMID: 35176255 PMCID: PMC9387478 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2022.102329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
It is debatable whether HIV-infected patients are at greater risk for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection compared with healthy subjects. The reported anti-HEV seroprevalence among different groups in Bulgaria varied from 9.04% to 25.9%, but the information regarding the HIV population is still missing. The aim of the present study was to evaluate hepatitis E seroprevalence among HIV-infected patients in Bulgaria and to analyze demographic and immunological factors associated with HEV infection. Serum samples of 312 HIV-infected patients were analyzed retrospectively. Age, sex, residence and laboratory markers for HEV, HBV, HCV and HIV infection, and lymphocytes subpopulations were collected for all patients. None of the tested samples were positive for HEV RNA. HEV seroprevalence among HIV-infected patients was 10.9%. Males were more affected with the highest prevalence of positivity in the age group > 30 to ≤ 40 years. The documented HIV transmission routes in HIV/HEV co-infected group were heterosexual, homosexual, intravenous drug use (IDU), and vertical with predominace of the heterosexual route (z = 0.2; p = 0.804). There was a statistically significant trend of HIV mixed infection with routes of HIV transmission other than homosexual - heterosexual in HIV/HEV group and injection drug use in HIV/HBV/HCV co-infected group. The route of HIV transmission, in contexts of patients’ behavior, was associated with HEV prevalence among HIV-infected patients.
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9
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Azman AS, Paul KK, Bhuiyan TR, Koyuncu A, Salje H, Qadri F, Gurley ES. Hepatitis E in Bangladesh: Insights from a National Serosurvey. J Infect Dis 2021; 224:S805-S812. [PMID: 34549775 PMCID: PMC8687073 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 1 and 2 are a major cause of avoidable morbidity and mortality in South Asia. Despite the high risk of death among infected pregnant women, scarce incidence data has been a contributing factor to global policy recommendations against the introduction of licensed hepatitis E vaccines, one of the only effective prevention tools. Methods We tested serum from a nationally representative serosurvey in Bangladesh for anti-HEV immunoglobulin G and estimated seroprevalence. We used Bayesian geostatistical models to generate high-resolution maps of seropositivity and examined variability in seropositivity by individual-level, household-level, and community-level risk factors using spatial logistic regression. Results We tested serum samples from 2924 individuals from 70 communities representing all divisions of Bangladesh and estimated a national seroprevalence of 20% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17%–24%). Seropositivity increased with age and male sex (odds ratio, 2.2 male vs female; 95% CI, 1.8–2.8). Community-level seroprevalence ranged widely (0–78%) with higher seroprevalence in urban areas, including Dhaka, with a 3.0-fold (95% credible interval, 2.3–3.7) higher seroprevalence than the rest of the country. Conclusions Hepatitis E infections are common throughout Bangladesh. Strengthening surveillance for hepatitis E, especially in urban areas, can provide additional evidence to appropriately target interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Azman
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.,Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Aybüke Koyuncu
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
| | - Henrik Salje
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.,University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Emily S Gurley
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA
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10
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Oshiro Y, Harada H, Hasegawa K, Akutsu N, Yoshizumi T, Kawagishi N, Nanmoku K, Ichimaru N, Okamura K, Ohira M, Itabashi Y, Fujiyama N, Ide K, Okajima H, Ogawa K, Takagi K, Eguchi H, Shinoda M, Nishida K, Shimazaki J, Shimoda M, Takahashi M, Okamoto H, Suzuki S. Loss of antibodies to hepatitis E virus in organ transplant patients with hepatitis E. Hepatol Res 2021; 51:538-547. [PMID: 33749100 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Studies regarding changes in antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) after HEV infection in organ transplant patients are limited. This study aimed to clarify HEV infection trends in organ transplant patients who contracted HEV using data from a previous Japanese nationwide survey. METHODS This study was undertaken from 2012 to 2019. Among 4518 liver, heart, and kidney transplant patients, anti-HEV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were positive in 164; data were collected from 106 of these patients, who consented to participate in the study. In total, 32 liver transplant patients, seven heart transplant patients, and 67 kidney transplant patients from 16 institutions in Japan were examined for IgG, IgM, and IgM antibodies to HEV and the presence of HEV RNA in the serum. The χ2 -test was used to determine the relationship between the early and late postinfection groups in patients with anti-HEV IgG positive-to-negative conversion rates. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare clinical factors. RESULTS Anti-HEV IgG positive-to-negative conversion occurred in 25 (23.6%) of 106 organ transplant patients. Of eight patients with hepatitis E who tested positive for HEV RNA, one (14.0%) had anti-HEV IgG positive-to-negative conversion. Twenty-four (24.5%) of 98 patients negative for HEV RNA had anti-HEV IgG positive-to-negative conversion. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed, for the first time, the changes in HEV antibodies in organ transplant patients. Loss of anti-HEV IgG could often occur unexpectedly in organ transplant patients with previous HEV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukio Oshiro
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Harada
- Kidney Transplant Surgery, Sapporo City General Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Hasegawa
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Artificial Organs and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naotake Akutsu
- Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Chibahigashi National Hospital, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomoharu Yoshizumi
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Koji Nanmoku
- Department of Renal Surgery and Transplantation, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Naotsugu Ichimaru
- Department of Advanced Technology for Transplantation, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Kenichi Okamura
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ohira
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Itabashi
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Fujiyama
- Center for Kidney Disease and Transplantation, Akita University Hospital, Akita, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ide
- Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Programs for Biomedical Research, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hideaki Okajima
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Kanazawa Medical University, Kahoku, Japan
| | - Kohei Ogawa
- Department of HPB and Breast Surgery, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Japan
| | - Kosei Takagi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Masahiro Shinoda
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kiyotaka Nishida
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan
| | - Jiro Shimazaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan
| | - Mitsugi Shimoda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan
| | - Masaharu Takahashi
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Okamoto
- Division of Virology, Department of Infection and Immunity, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | - Shuji Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Ami, Japan
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11
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Kirkwood CD, Dobscha KR, Steele AD. Hepatitis E should be a global public health priority: recommendations for improving surveillance and prevention. Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 19:1129-1140. [PMID: 33441054 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2020.1874930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important cause of enterically transmitted viral hepatitis and a significant contributor to maternal mortality in endemic regions around the world, yet the global response has been limited. HEV is a disease of poverty, and the populations experiencing the greatest burden of HEV-associated illness are not benefitting from existing interventions, including WASH strategies and immunization. AREAS COVERED Though a vaccine exists (HEV 239, Hecolin®, Xiamen Innovax Biotech, China), it is only licensed and available in the private market in China and has yet to be prequalified by the WHO for use in endemic settings and outbreaks. This review of the current state of HEV disease and subsequent recommendations for a coordinated public health response are intended to guide the global health community towards breaking the current 'vicious cycle,' in which a lack of data prevents actions that would improve health outcomes. EXPERT OPINION Vaccine implementation in future outbreaks, targeted studies assessing vaccine effectiveness and immunogenicity in endemic regions and populations, improved understanding of the global burden, and improvements in diagnostic and epidemiologic tools are urgently needed. Strategies for implementing routine vaccination programs, improving water, sanitation, and hygiene in endemic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl D Kirkwood
- Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katherine R Dobscha
- Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , Seattle, WA, USA
| | - A Duncan Steele
- Enteric and Diarrheal Diseases, Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , Seattle, WA, USA
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Hepatitis E in Pregnant Women and the Potential Use of HEV Vaccine to Prevent Maternal Infection and Mortality. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40475-019-00193-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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