Transfusion-transmitted hepatitis E in Germany, 2013

Euro Surveill. 2014 May 29;19(21):20812. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.21.20812.

Abstract

The reported IgG seroprevalence against hepatitis E virus (HEV) in German blood donations is 6.8%, and HEV RNA detected in 0.08%, but documented evidence for HEV transmission is lacking. We identified two donations from a single donor containing 120 IU HEV RNA/mL plasma and 490 IU/mL. An infectious dose of 7,056 IU HEV RNA was transmitted via apheresis platelets to an immunosuppressed patient who developed chronic HEV. Further, transmission was probable in an immunocompetent child.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Blood Donors
  • Child
  • Contact Tracing
  • Germany
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood
  • Hepatitis E / blood*
  • Hepatitis E / transmission
  • Hepatitis E / virology
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis E virus / immunology
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfusion Reaction*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Hepatitis Antibodies
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • RNA, Viral