Serologic Analysis of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Patients with Kidney-Related Illnesses

Hepatitis E is a globally distributed human disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). HEV is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the family Hepeviridae. Within the genus Orthohepevirus, seven HEV genotypes infect various mammalian hosts. HEV genotypes HEV-1 to HEV-4 and HEV-7 can infect humans. HEV-3 is zoonotic with the domestic pig, wild boar, deer and other mammalian species as reservoirs. HEV-3 is an underestimated emerging threat which is spread across Europe. It is transmitted through undercooked pork meat or other products, and with blood components through transfusions. HEV-3 infection in immunocompetent patients is self-limiting and clinically asymptomatic. However, immunocompromised individuals are at a high risk of developing chronic hepatitis E. Chronic infection may lead to life-threatening liver cirrhosis. Patients with kidney transplants or kidney-related illnesses are in this risk group. In this study, a serologic analysis of blood samples obtained from kidney transplant recipients, patients with chronic kidney disease, patients under dialysis and healthy controls was performed. A prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial and in-house ELISAs.