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Prevalence of hepatitis E virus infection in multiple transfused Brazilian patients with thalassemia and sickle cell disease |
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| Authors: | Svetoslav N. Slavov PhD Juliana D. M. Maçonetto Edson Z. Martinez PhD Ana Cristina Silva-Pinto MD PhD Dimas T. Covas MD PhD Anna Maria Eis-Hübinger DVM PhD Simone Kashima PhD |
| Affiliation: | 1. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil;2. Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil;3. Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil;4. Institute of Virology, University of Bonn Medical Centre, Bonn, Germany |
| Abstract: | Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. The virus is acquired by fecal-oral route; however, it can also be transmitted by blood transfusion. The objective of the study was to examine anti-HEV immunoglobulin G and HEV RNA prevalence in multiple transfused patients with thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD), and in blood donors. The HEV seroprevalence in the patients was 13% (20% in thalassemics; 7.7% in SCD), and 11% in blood donors. No positive result for HEV RNA was obtained. This is a pioneer study examining HEV circulation in Brazilian patients with hemoglobinopathies. |
| Keywords: | HEV multiple transfusion real-time PCR seroprevalence thalassemia |