BACKGROUND: The routes of hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmission have still not been fully clarified. Here, we evaluated the possibility of sexual transmission of HEV, which remains a highly disputed issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatitis E virus sexual transmission risk was assessed by comparing the prevalence of HEV infection in a sample of 196 Italian men who have sex with men (MSM) involved in a multi-country hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak, and in 3,912 Italian male blood donors selected from the same regions and provinces as the MSM. Selection of study of participants was motivated by the fact that HEV prevalence among Italian blood donors has been found to vary enormously between different geographical areas. RESULTS: Anti-HEV IgG prevalence was 14.8% and 5.6% in blood donors and MSM, respectively. Adjusted anti-HEV IgG prevalence was significantly lower in MSM than in blood donors (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22-0.75; p<0.01), among residents in northern (OR, 0.45; 95% CI: 0.37-0.55; p<0.01) and southern (OR, 0.45; 95% CI: 0.35-0.58; p <0.01) Italy than among residents in Central Italy, while the prevalence was significantly higher in participants over 50 years of age than in those under 50 years of age (OR, 1.83; 95% CI: 1.48-2.27; p<0.01). DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that sexual intercourse does not have a relevant role in HEV transmission. In particular, sexual transmission of HEV is unlikely to influence the prevalence of HEV infection at population level.
BACKGROUND: The routes of hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmission have still not been fully clarified. Here, we evaluated the possibility of sexual transmission of HEV, which remains a highly disputed issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Hepatitis E virus sexual transmission risk was assessed by comparing the prevalence of HEV infection in a sample of 196 Italian men who have sex with men (MSM) involved in a multi-country hepatitis A virus (HAV) outbreak, and in 3,912 Italian male blood donors selected from the same regions and provinces as the MSM. Selection of study of participants was motivated by the fact that HEV prevalence among Italian blood donors has been found to vary enormously between different geographical areas. RESULTS: Anti-HEV IgG prevalence was 14.8% and 5.6% in blood donors and MSM, respectively. Adjusted anti-HEV IgG prevalence was significantly lower in MSM than in blood donors (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22-0.75; p<0.01), among residents in northern (OR, 0.45; 95% CI: 0.37-0.55; p<0.01) and southern (OR, 0.45; 95% CI: 0.35-0.58; p <0.01) Italy than among residents in Central Italy, while the prevalence was significantly higher in participants over 50 years of age than in those under 50 years of age (OR, 1.83; 95% CI: 1.48-2.27; p<0.01). DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that sexual intercourse does not have a relevant role in HEV transmission. In particular, sexual transmission of HEV is unlikely to influence the prevalence of HEV infection at population level.
Authors: Eyasu H Teshale; Scott P Grytdal; Christopher Howard; Vaughn Barry; Saleem Kamili; Jan Drobeniuc; Vincent R Hill; Samuel Okware; Dale J Hu; Scott D Holmberg Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2010-04-01 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Carina Fischer; Martina Hofmann; Martin Danzer; Katja Hofer; Jennifer Kaar; Christian Gabriel Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-03-09 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Patricia Ndumbi; Gudrun S Freidl; Christopher J Williams; Otilia Mårdh; Carmen Varela; Ana Avellón; Ingrid Friesema; Harry Vennema; Kazim Beebeejaun; Siew Lin Ngui; Michael Edelstein; Alison Smith-Palmer; Niamh Murphy; Jonathan Dean; Mirko Faber; Jürgen Wenzel; Mia Kontio; Luise Müller; Sofie Elisabeth Midgley; Lena Sundqvist; Josefine Lundberg Ederth; Anne-Marie Roque-Afonso; Elisabeth Couturier; Sofieke Klamer; Javiera Rebolledo; Vanessa Suin; Stephan W Aberle; Daniela Schmid; Rita De Sousa; Gonçalo Figueiredo Augusto; Valeria Alfonsi; Martina Del Manso; Anna Rita Ciccaglione; Kassiani Mellou; Christos Hadjichristodoulou; Alastair Donachie; Maria-Louise Borg; Maja Sočan; Mario Poljak; Ettore Severi Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2018-08
Authors: Jeanne Heil; Christian J P A Hoebe; Inge H M van Loo; Jochen W L Cals; Geneviève A F S van Liere; Nicole H T M Dukers-Muijrers Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-25 Impact factor: 3.240