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Frontiers in public health
2023;11 1257754.

Exploring hepatitis E virus seroprevalence and associated risk factors among the human population in Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Mariana Alejandra Rivero, Lorena Paola Arce, Silvina Elena Gutiérrez, Adela Tisnés, Juan Antonio Passucci, Julia Analia Silva, Ayelén Barón Prato, Florencia Sánchez, Julia Matias Brancher, Silvia Marcela Estein, María Guadalupe Vizoso-Pinto
Author Information
  1. Mariana Alejandra Rivero: Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  2. Lorena Paola Arce: Laboratorio de Biología de las Infecciones, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, Tucumán, Argentina.
  3. Silvina Elena Gutiérrez: Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  4. Adela Tisnés: Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, CIG- IGEHCS- CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  5. Juan Antonio Passucci: Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  6. Julia Analia Silva: Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  7. Ayelén Barón Prato: Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, CIG- IGEHCS- CONICET, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  8. Florencia Sánchez: Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  9. Julia Matias Brancher: Laboratorio de Ciencias Básicas Or. Genética, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
  10. Silvia Marcela Estein: Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (UNCPBA-CICPBA-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Tandil, Argentina.
  11. María Guadalupe Vizoso-Pinto: Laboratorio de Biología de las Infecciones, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO), CONICET-UNT, Tucumán, Argentina.
PMID: 37869189 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1257754

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a common cause of acute clinical hepatitis worldwide and is emerging as a disease in Argentina. It is primarily transmitted through contaminated water and food, following the fecal-oral route. Furthermore, is a zoonotic disease with swine as the primary reservoir. Prevalence of HEV infection in humans in several regions of Argentina remains unknown.
Objectives: (i) Determine the seroprevalence of HEV among the human population in Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (ii) Evaluate its association with demographic, socioeconomic and other risk exposures variables, and (iii) Describe and analyze spatial patterns related to HEV infection.
Methods: From August 2020 to July 2021, serum samples were collected from 969 individuals aged 1-80 years. Seroprevalence and 95% Confidence Interval was determined. To assess the factors associated with the presence of anti-HEV antibodies, associations between the variables and seropositivity were evaluated through bivariate and multivariate analysis. Spatial scanning for clusters of positivity was carried out. Factors associated with these clusters were also assessed.
Results: Anti-HEV antibodies were detected in 4.64% (IC 95% 3.27-6.02) of samples. Dark urine was associated with seropositivity ( = 0.02). Seropositivity was linked with the presence of natural water courses near their households ( = 0.02); the age ( = 0.04); and previous travel to Europe ( = 0.04). A spatial cluster of low rates of HEV seropositivity was detected, with greater distance of the households to water courses associated to the cluster, and male sex inversely associated to it.
Discussion and conclusion: This study is the first study to investigate the prevalence of HEV in the population from Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Considering HEV infection in the differential diagnosis in individuals presenting acute hepatitis is highlighted. The incorporation of HEV testing into blood screening policies should be mandatory. Factors related to the infection and spatial patterns of high and low risk were determined, and should be considered when implementing specific preventive measures.

Keywords

hepatitis E virus (HEV) risk factors seroprevalence spatial analyses water exposure

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MeSH Term

Humans
Male
Swine
Animals
Hepatitis E virus
Argentina
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis Antibodies
Risk Factors
Water

Chemicals

Hepatitis Antibodies
Water
Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Article has an altmetric score of 2

Word Cloud

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