Razširjenost in pojavnost okužbe z virusom hepatitisa E (HEV) med krvodajalci v Sloveniji

Tomić, Anamarija (author), Maličev, Elvira (mentor), Železnik, Klara (comentor)

Razširjenost virusa hepatitisa E (HEV) med slovenskimi krvodajalci smo ocenili z uporabo presejalnega testiranja NAT, ki dokazuje prisotnost HEV RNK v plazmi in uporabo serološke analize specifičnih protiteles anti-HEV. Testirali smo 8928 vzorcev krvi krvodajalcev, ki so se prostovoljno vključili v študijo, na prisotnost HEV RNK in 600 vzorcev na prisotnost specifičnih protiteles IgG in IgM anti-HEV. Pojavnost HEV RNK je bila nizka (0,02 %), saj sta bila pozitivna le dva vzorca, medtem ko je seroprevalenca IgG anti-HEV protiteles znašala 7,3 %, kar nakazuje na preteklo okužbo pri približno vsakem 14. krvodajalcu. Akutne okužbe so bile redke, vendar je njihovo zgodnje odkrivanje ključno za preprečevanje prenosa s transfuzijo krvi. Analiza avidnosti protiteles je omogočila razlikovanje med svežimi in preteklimi okužbami. Vzorci so bili pridobljeni iz vseh slovenskih regij, kar zagotavlja reprezentativnost rezultatov. Rezultati kažejo, da je tveganje za prenos HEV s transfuzijo krvi nizko, vendar to ne izključuje potrebe po nadaljnjem spremljanju. Z rutinskim presejalnim testiranjem HEV RNK in izboljšanjem diagnostičnih metod bi lahko dodatno zmanjšali možnost prenosa okužbe. Študija zagotavlja pomembne epidemiološke podatke za izboljšanje transfuzijske varnosti v Sloveniji in poudarja potrebo po razvoju učinkovitih strategij za preprečevanje okužb.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Virus hepatitisa E (HEV), krvodajalci, transfuzija, testiranje NAT, protitelesa, test Proleix UltrioPlex E
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publisher: [M. Možina]
• Year: 2025
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169740
• UDC: 616.36-002:615.381(043.2)
• COBISS.SI-ID: 238817795
• Publication date in RUL: 07.06.2025

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among blood donors in Slovenia

Abstract

The prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among Slovenian blood donors was assessed using NAT screening tests to detect HEV RNA in serum and serological analysis of specific antibodies. We tested 8,928 blood donor samples for the presence of HEV RNA and 600 samples for specific IgG and IgM anti-HEV antibodies. The occurrence of HEV RNA was low (0.02 %), with only two positive samples, while the seroprevalence of IgG anti-HEV antibodies was 7.3 %, indicating past infection in approximately one in 14 blood donors. Acute infections were rare, but their early detection is crucial for preventing transmission through blood transfusion. Antibody avidity analysis allowed differentiation between recent and past infections. Samples were collected from all Slovenian regions, ensuring the representativeness of the results. Our findings indicate that the risk of HEV transmission through blood transfusion is low; however, continued monitoring remains necessary. Routine HEV RNA screening and improved diagnostic methods could further reduce the possibility of transmission. This study provides important epidemiological data to enhance transfusion safety in Slovenia and highlights the need for development of effective strategies for infection prevention.

• Keywords: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), blood donors, transfuzion, NAT testing, antibodies, Proleix UltrioPlex E Assay