Hepatitis E virus: Relevance in blood donors and risk groups

Background and Objectives: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection usually causes acute self-limited disease. HEV is associated with faecal-contaminated dri nking water, but other vectors, such as blood, are possible. The aim of thi s study was to investigate the prevalence of HEV in blood donors and in two groups at high risk for parenteral infections, namely, haemodialysis patie nts, and children infected with HCV via blood transfusion. Materials and Me thods: We investigated the prevalence of anti-HEV in 863 blood donors, 63 h aemodialysis patients, and 42 children infected post transfusion with HCV. Results: The prevalence rates were 2.8, 6.3%, and zero, respectively. Concl usions: (1) The incidence of HEV in Spain is similar to that in other Weste rn European countries, and (2) HEV is probably not transmitted parenterally to children.