Hepatitis e virus infection in immunocompromised patients: detection, viral load determination and molecular characterization

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause acute and chronic hepatitis in organ transplant recipients. Serological evidence for HEV infection has been found among different population groups in Brazil and a single acute case has been confirmed. Data on the frequency and genotype distribution of HEV in Brazil are lacking, especially in immunocompromised patients, a group particularly at risk due to the possibility of chronic infection. This study aims at determining the frequency of HEV infection, viral load and genotype distribution in distinct populations of immunocompromised patients. A transversal study including 800 immunocompromised patients will be conducted, including renal transplant patients, patients with HIV/Aids, patients with chronic liver diseases, and liver transplant patients. Peripheral blood samples will be subjected to quantitative real time RT-PCR to determine HEV RNA presence and viral load. Positive samples will undergo direct sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. (AU)