Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional study

Introduction. The study assessed the seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) markers in different at-risk groups within the Republic of Moldova. The risk groups included blood donors, hemodialysed patients, medical workers, tuberculosis (TB) patients, and intravenous drug users (IDUs). Material...

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Main Authors: Octavian SAJIN, Nina IZIUMOV, Adela ȚURCANU, Angela PARASCHIV, Tiberiu HOLBAN, Valentina BLAJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asociatia de Biosiguranta si Biosecuritate 2025-06-01
Series:One Health & Risk Management
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Online Access:https://www.journal.ohrm.bba.md/index.php/journal-ohrm-bba-md/article/view/820
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author Octavian SAJIN
Nina IZIUMOV
Adela ȚURCANU
Angela PARASCHIV
Tiberiu HOLBAN
Valentina BLAJ
author_facet Octavian SAJIN
Nina IZIUMOV
Adela ȚURCANU
Angela PARASCHIV
Tiberiu HOLBAN
Valentina BLAJ
author_sort Octavian SAJIN
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. The study assessed the seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) markers in different at-risk groups within the Republic of Moldova. The risk groups included blood donors, hemodialysed patients, medical workers, tuberculosis (TB) patients, and intravenous drug users (IDUs). Material and methods. A cross-sectional descriptive-epidemiological study was conducted from 2019 to 2023, with participants randomly selected from different risk groups. Blood samples were collected and tested using ELISA for Anti-HEV IgG and IgM markers. Seroprevalence was calculated with 95% confidence intervals, and statistical analyses were conducted using Epi Info 7.2 software. Results. Among 794 tested blood donors, 9.6% (95% CI: 7.7-11.8) were positive for Anti-HEV IgG, indicating past exposure, and 8.3% (95% CI: 6.3-10.8) for Anti-HEV IgM, suggesting recent infection. Hemodialyzed patients had a significantly higher seroprevalence: 45.8% (95% CI: 34.8–57.1) for Anti-HEV IgG and 21.6% (95% CI: 9.8–38.2) for Anti-HEV IgM. Medical workers exhibited moderate IgG prevalence at 11.8% (95% CI: 9.1-15.0) and substantially higher IgM prevalence at 38.1% (95% CI: 26.1-51.2). TB patients had lower IgG (11.9%, 95% CI: 7.8-17.2) and IgM (7.8%, 95% CI: 3.6-14.3) prevalences. IDUs had a notable IgG prevalence of 20.5% (95% CI: 12.6-30.4) but no detectable IgM. Conclusions. This study highlights the significant burden of hepatitis E virus infection among at-risk populations in the Republic of Moldova.
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spelling doaj-art-daa44ed19b464dc2b8ec7a0417b562362025-08-20T03:21:34ZengAsociatia de Biosiguranta si BiosecuritateOne Health & Risk Management2587-34582587-34662025-06-0162334410.38045/ohrm.2025.2.03Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional studyOctavian SAJIN0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5458-6955Nina IZIUMOV1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9988-9577Adela ȚURCANU2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7684-1768Angela PARASCHIV3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0817-8316Tiberiu HOLBAN4Valentina BLAJ5https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1554-7350National Agency for Public HealthNational Agency for Public HealthSUMP ”Nicolae Testemitanu”SUMP ”Nicolae Testemitanu”SUMP ”Nicolae Testemitanu”National Agency for Public HealthIntroduction. The study assessed the seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) markers in different at-risk groups within the Republic of Moldova. The risk groups included blood donors, hemodialysed patients, medical workers, tuberculosis (TB) patients, and intravenous drug users (IDUs). Material and methods. A cross-sectional descriptive-epidemiological study was conducted from 2019 to 2023, with participants randomly selected from different risk groups. Blood samples were collected and tested using ELISA for Anti-HEV IgG and IgM markers. Seroprevalence was calculated with 95% confidence intervals, and statistical analyses were conducted using Epi Info 7.2 software. Results. Among 794 tested blood donors, 9.6% (95% CI: 7.7-11.8) were positive for Anti-HEV IgG, indicating past exposure, and 8.3% (95% CI: 6.3-10.8) for Anti-HEV IgM, suggesting recent infection. Hemodialyzed patients had a significantly higher seroprevalence: 45.8% (95% CI: 34.8–57.1) for Anti-HEV IgG and 21.6% (95% CI: 9.8–38.2) for Anti-HEV IgM. Medical workers exhibited moderate IgG prevalence at 11.8% (95% CI: 9.1-15.0) and substantially higher IgM prevalence at 38.1% (95% CI: 26.1-51.2). TB patients had lower IgG (11.9%, 95% CI: 7.8-17.2) and IgM (7.8%, 95% CI: 3.6-14.3) prevalences. IDUs had a notable IgG prevalence of 20.5% (95% CI: 12.6-30.4) but no detectable IgM. Conclusions. This study highlights the significant burden of hepatitis E virus infection among at-risk populations in the Republic of Moldova.https://www.journal.ohrm.bba.md/index.php/journal-ohrm-bba-md/article/view/820hepatitis e virusmoldovarisk groupsanti-hev antibodiesseroprevalence
spellingShingle Octavian SAJIN
Nina IZIUMOV
Adela ȚURCANU
Angela PARASCHIV
Tiberiu HOLBAN
Valentina BLAJ
Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional study
One Health & Risk Management
hepatitis e virus
moldova
risk groups
anti-hev antibodies
seroprevalence
title Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional study
title_full Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional study
title_short Seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high-risk populations from the Republic of Moldova: a cross-sectional study
title_sort seroprevalence of hepatitis e virus in five high risk populations from the republic of moldova a cross sectional study
topic hepatitis e virus
moldova
risk groups
anti-hev antibodies
seroprevalence
url https://www.journal.ohrm.bba.md/index.php/journal-ohrm-bba-md/article/view/820
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