Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in HIV Infected Patients

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered as a self-limited viral disease in tropical and subtropical countries which is transmitted as oral-fecal route. Some studies showed that HIV infected patients acquire HEV infection more frequent. This study was aimed to determine the seroepidemiology of HEV infection among HIV positive patients.

In this study 134 HIV infected patient and 52 matched healthy controls were enrolled. All cases were evaluated for the presence of anti-HEV antibodies (IgG and IgM) using ELISA.

Out of 132 HIV patients, 16 (11.9%) and out of 52 controls 6 (11.5%) were anti-HEV IgG positive. There is no significant difference between case and controls regarding anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence. Anti-HEV IgM was negative in all cases and controls. There was no association between anti-HEV IgG seropositivity and age, sex, possible route of HIV acquisition, aminotransferases levels, CD4, antiretroviral therapy, HBV and HCV co-infection

Our survey showed that HEV seroprevalence was similar in HIV infected patients and controls; therefore these patients are not at high risk for acquisition of this infection and screening of HIV patients and their vaccination is not recommended.