Antibody to hepatitis E virus of IgG class (anti-HEV IgG) is regularly
detected in industrialized countries, where HEV is non-endemic, at le
vels not exceeding 2-3%; seropositive individuals are often found in c
ertain groups of patients and professionals exposed to an increased ri
sk of blood-borne infections. The present study was aimed at the ident
ification of anti-HEV IgG in patients with human immunodeficiency viru
s (HIV) infection, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS
), living in Russia and Belarus, an area of low anti-HEV prevalence wi
th a moderate spread of HIV infection and AIDS. In Russia, 13 out of 1
17 HIV-infected patients (11.1%) were found to be anti-HEV seropositiv
e. This differed significantly from the frequency observed in the norm
al population (1.7%) but not from the frequency in a matching control,
high-risk group consisting of male prisoners (8.0%). No difference in
the frequency of anti-HEV IgG seropositivity was found between groups
of HIV-infected men subdivided by sexual orientation. The rate of ant
i-HEV seropositivity increased with the progression of HIV infection,
reaching 43.3% in AIDS patients and 38.1% in those who died from AIDS.
In Belarus, anti-HEV IgG seropositivity was not found among 20 HIV-in
fected subjects nor among individuals from the control risk group, whi
ch consisted of 25 intravenous drug users. In conclusion, HEV infectio
n may have common transmission mechanisms (risk factors) with HIV infe
ction rather than represent an additional opportunistic infection in A
IDS.