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Viera-Segura O, Calderón-Flores A, Batún-Alfaro JA, Fierro NA. Tracing the History of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Mexico: From the Enigmatic Genotype 2 to the Current Disease Situation. Viruses 2023; 15:1911. [PMID: 37766316 PMCID: PMC10536485 DOI: 10.3390/v15091911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide. This virus is responsible for waterborne outbreaks in low-income countries and zoonosis transmission in industrialized regions. Initially, considered self-limiting, HEV may also lead to chronic disease, and evidence supports that infection can be considered a systemic disease. In the late 1980s, Mexico became a hot spot in the study of HEV due to one of the first virus outbreaks in Latin America related to enterically transmitted viral non-A, non-B hepatitis. Viral stool particles recovered from Mexican viral hepatitis outbreaks represented the first identification of HEV genotype (Gt) 2 (Gt2) in the world. No new findings of HEV-Gt2 have been reported in the country, whereas this genotype has been found in countries on the African continent. Recent investigations in Mexico have identified other strains (HEV-Gt1 and -Gt3) and a high frequency of anti-HEV antibodies in animal and human populations. Herein, the potential reasons for the disappearance of HEV-Gt2 in Mexico and the advances in the study of HEV in the country are discussed along with challenges in studying this neglected pathogen. These pieces of information are expected to contribute to disease control in the entire Latin American region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Viera-Segura
- Laboratorio de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Emergentes y Reemergentes, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Mexico
| | - Arturo Calderón-Flores
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Julio A. Batún-Alfaro
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Nora A. Fierro
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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Fernández Villalobos NV, Kessel B, Rodiah I, Ott JJ, Lange B, Krause G. Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus infection in the Americas: Estimates from a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269253. [PMID: 35648773 PMCID: PMC9159553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is responsible for inflammatory liver disease and can cause severe health problems. Because the seroprevalence of HEV varies within different population groups and between regions of the continent, we conducted a systematic review on the topic in order to provide evidence for targeted prevention strategies.
Methods
We performed a systematic review in PubMed, SCIELO, LILACS, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library and included reports up to 25 May 2021 (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020173934). We assessed the risk of bias, publication bias, and heterogeneity between studies and conducted a random-effect meta-analysis for proportions using a (binomial-normal) generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) fitted by Maximum Likelihood (ML). We also reported other characteristics like genotype and risk factors.
Results
Of 1212 identified records, 142 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis and 132 in the quantitative analysis. Our random-effects GLMM pooled overall estimate for past infection (IgG) was 7.7% (95% CI 6.4%–9.2%) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 97%). We found higher seroprevalence in certain population groups, for example in people with pig related exposure for IgG (ranges from 6.2%–28% and pooled estimate of 13.8%, 95% CI: 7.6%–23.6%), or with diagnosed or suspected acute viral hepatitis for IgM (ranges from 0.3%–23.9% and pooled estimate of 5.5%, 95% CI: 2.0%–14.1%). Increasing age, contact with pigs and meat products, and low socioeconomic conditions are the main risk factors for HEV infection. Genotype 1 and 3 were documented across the region.
Conclusion
HEV seroprevalence estimates demonstrated high variability within the Americas. There are population groups with higher seroprevalence and reported risk factors for HEV infection that need to be prioritized for further research. Due to human transmission and zoonotic infections in the region, preventive strategies should include water sanitation, occupational health, and food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbora Kessel
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Isti Rodiah
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jördis Jennifer Ott
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Berit Lange
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gérard Krause
- Department of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Braunschweig, Germany
- Twincore, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, Braunschweig-Hannover, Germany
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First Report of the HEV Seroprevalence and the Risk Factor Assessment in the West Bank, Palestine, during the Period of 2015-2017. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY = JOURNAL CANADIEN DES MALADIES INFECTIEUSES ET DE LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE 2022; 2022:4935811. [PMID: 35178134 PMCID: PMC8847015 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4935811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis E virus is emerging viral hepatitis with hyperendemicity in many countries. Data on the burden of disease is not available in Palestine. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence and the risk factors of the HEV among the general population of the West Bank, Palestine. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 432 sera samples from 40 localities in the eleven districts of the West Bank and Jerusalem, Palestine, during the period of March 2015 to March 2017, were tested for HEV-IgG. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data of the participants' demographics and disease risk factors. The overall seroprevalence was 3.7%. Level of education was significantly inversely associated with HEV seropositivity (P=0.04). Purely spatial analysis did not detect any significant cluster related to the distribution of HEV-IgG cases; however, living in the southern West Bank is shown to be significantly associated with HEV. Age was also associated with HEV seropositivity. The young (<19 years) and adults (>40 years) had the highest prevalence, compared to those between 20 to 39 years old (P=0.12). Furthermore, males and those in contact with animals were associated with HEV seropositivity (P=0.1 and 0.3, respectively). In conclusion, the seroprevalence of HEV IgG in the West Bank, Palestine is low. Several well-investigated risk factors cannot be supported by our results due to the small number of the positive HEV-IgG samples. Finally, this study is useful for providing a first look into the seroepidemiology of HEV in Palestine.
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