Maribel G Martínez Wassaf1, María B Pisano2, Patricia A Barril3, Osvaldo C Elbarcha4, Marcelo A Pinto5, Jaqueline Mendes de Oliveira6, Pablo DiGiusto7, Silvia V Nates8, Viviana E Ré9. 1. Department of Virology, School of Chemical Sciences, Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina; Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, LACE Laboratories, Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: maribel.martinez@laboratoriolace.com.ar. 2. Department of Virology, School of Chemical Sciences, Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina; Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: mbelenpisano@gmail.com. 3. Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: patricia_barril@fcm.unc.edu.ar. 4. Department of Virology, School of Chemical Sciences, Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina; Department of Virology and Molecular Biology, LACE Laboratories, Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: osvaldo@laboratoriolace.com.ar. 5. Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: marcelop@ioc.fiocruz.br. 6. Laboratory of Technological Development in Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: jackie@ioc.fiocruz.br. 7. Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: pablodigiusto91@gmail.com. 8. Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: snates@fcm.unc.edu.ar. 9. Department of Virology, School of Chemical Sciences, Catholic University of Córdoba, Argentina; Virology Institute "Dr. J.M. Vanella", School of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: vivianare@fcm.unc.edu.ar.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emergent causative agent of acute hepatitis worldwide, transmitted by fecal-oral route. In Argentina it is considered rare, so differential laboratory testing is not routinely performed. Besides, in Argentina's central area epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HEV are still unknown. OBJECTIVES: Provide evidence of local circulation of HEV by molecular detection on environmental samples and by serological survey in healthy adult population of Córdoba city, Argentina. STUDY DESIGN: Environmental surveillance was conducted in river and sewage samples collected between 2007 and 2009-2011. Viral detection was performed by RT-Nested PCR of ORF-1 and ORF-2 partial regions. Anti-HEV IgG was determined by EIA in 433 serum samples collected between 2009 and 2010. RESULTS: HEV was detected in 6.3% of raw sewage samples and in 3.2% of riverine samples. Nucleotide sequencing analyses revealed that all isolates belonged to genotype 3, subtypes a, b and c. The prevalence of IgG anti-HEV was 4.4%. Seroprevalence increased with the age of the individuals (OR: 3.50; 95% CI 1.39-8.87; p=0.0065) and, although the prevalence was higher in low income population, no statistical relation was found between anti-HEV and socioeconomic level. CONCLUSIONS: The environmental findings added to serological results, demonstrate that HEV circulates in central Argentina. Contamination of water with HEV could represent a route of transmission for local populations, which have a high number of susceptible individuals. This fact alerts local health care systems in order to include detection of HEV in the diagnostic algorithm of viral hepatitis.
BACKGROUND: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emergent causative agent of acute hepatitis worldwide, transmitted by fecal-oral route. In Argentina it is considered rare, so differential laboratory testing is not routinely performed. Besides, in Argentina's central area epidemiological and molecular characteristics of HEV are still unknown. OBJECTIVES: Provide evidence of local circulation of HEV by molecular detection on environmental samples and by serological survey in healthy adult population of Córdoba city, Argentina. STUDY DESIGN:Environmental surveillance was conducted in river and sewage samples collected between 2007 and 2009-2011. Viral detection was performed by RT-Nested PCR of ORF-1 and ORF-2 partial regions. Anti-HEV IgG was determined by EIA in 433 serum samples collected between 2009 and 2010. RESULTS:HEV was detected in 6.3% of raw sewage samples and in 3.2% of riverine samples. Nucleotide sequencing analyses revealed that all isolates belonged to genotype 3, subtypes a, b and c. The prevalence of IgG anti-HEV was 4.4%. Seroprevalence increased with the age of the individuals (OR: 3.50; 95% CI 1.39-8.87; p=0.0065) and, although the prevalence was higher in low income population, no statistical relation was found between anti-HEV and socioeconomic level. CONCLUSIONS: The environmental findings added to serological results, demonstrate that HEV circulates in central Argentina. Contamination of water with HEV could represent a route of transmission for local populations, which have a high number of susceptible individuals. This fact alerts local health care systems in order to include detection of HEV in the diagnostic algorithm of viral hepatitis.
Authors: G Masachessi; M B Pisano; V E Prez; L C Martínez; J F Michelena; M Martínez-Wassaf; M O Giordano; M B Isa; J V Pavan; A Welter; S V Nates; V Ré Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2018-02-14 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Lu Zhao; Evans Atoni; Raphael Nyaruaba; Yao Du; Huaiyu Zhang; Oscar Donde; Doudou Huang; Shuqi Xiao; Nanjie Ren; Teng Ma; Zhu Shu; Zhiming Yuan; Lei Tong; Han Xia Journal: J Environ Sci (China) Date: 2021-05-14 Impact factor: 5.565
Authors: Paula A Baez; Maria Camila Lopez; Alejandra Duque-Jaramillo; Dioselina Pelaez; Francisco Molina; Maria-Cristina Navas Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-05-16 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: José D Debes; Maribel Martínez Wassaf; María Belén Pisano; María Beatriz Isa; Martin Lotto; Leonardo G Marianelli; Natalia Frassone; Estefania Ballari; Paul R Bohjanen; Bettina E Hansen; Viviana Ré Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-07-28 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Juliana Gil Melgaço; Noemi Rovaris Gardinali; Vinicius da Motta de Mello; Mariana Leal; Lia Laura Lewis-Ximenez; Marcelo Alves Pinto Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2018-01-09 Impact factor: 3.411