Nasrallah Gheyath K, Al Absi Enas S, Ghandour Rula, Ali Nadima H, Taleb Sara, Hedaya Laila, Ali Fatima, Huwaidy Mariam, Husseini Abdullatif
Department of Biomedical Sciences.
Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Transfusion. 2017 Jul;57(7):1801-1807. doi: 10.1111/trf.14116. Epub 2017 Apr 28.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an RNA virus transmitted mainly through zoonotic transmission or fecal-oral route. More than 80% of Qatar's population are expatriates, including many coming from hyperendemic countries; thus, it is important to estimate the seroprevalence and to compare between different nationalities. The results can be useful in alerting blood banks to the importance of HEV screening.
Samples from 5854 blood donations provided by Hamad Medical Corporation were tested in the period between June 2013 to June 2016. Samples were tested for the presence of anti-HEV immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM antibodies and viral RNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used.
Anti-HEV seroprevalence was 20.7%. A total of 1198 and 38 donations tested positive for IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Of the IgM-positive donations four tested positive by PCR. A significant association was detected between HEV seroprevalence with age and nationality.
The seroprevalence of anti-HEV was high in Qatar. Since HEV IgM and RNA were detected, this suggests the possibility of HEV transmission by transfusion. Blood banks in Qatar and the region should consider screening for HEV, especially when transfusion is intended to pregnant women or immunocompromised patients.
戊型肝炎病毒（HEV）是一种主要通过人畜共患病传播或粪-口途径传播的RNA病毒。卡塔尔超过80%的人口为外籍人士，其中许多人来自高流行国家；因此，估计血清流行率并比较不同国籍人群的情况很重要。研究结果有助于提醒血库注意戊型肝炎病毒筛查的重要性。
对2013年6月至2016年6月期间哈马德医疗公司提供的5854份献血样本进行检测。使用实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测样本中抗HEV免疫球蛋白（Ig）G和IgM抗体以及病毒RNA的存在情况。采用描述性统计、双变量分析和多变量逻辑回归分析。
抗HEV血清流行率为20.7%。分别有1198份和38份献血样本的IgG和IgM抗体检测呈阳性。在IgM阳性的献血样本中，有4份经PCR检测呈阳性。检测到HEV血清流行率与年龄和国籍之间存在显著关联。
卡塔尔抗HEV血清流行率较高。由于检测到HEV IgM和RNA，这表明存在通过输血传播HEV的可能性。卡塔尔及该地区的血库应考虑对HEV进行筛查，尤其是在为孕妇或免疫功能低下患者输血时。
