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Background <p>Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonosis that can lead to chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised individuals. While HEV genotype 3 circulates in Argentina, data on pediatric populations, especially those immunosuppressed, are scarce. We hypothesized that immunosuppressed children in a region with known zoonotic HEV circulation would show higher seroprevalence compared to healthy controls.</p> Methods <p>This pilot descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a pediatric referral center in Rosario, Argentina, from 2018 to 2020. Fifty-eight immunocompromised children (aged 8 months–17 years) were enrolled, alongside 101 age-matched healthy controls. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies were detected by ELISA; HEV RNA was assessed by RT-qPCR. Statistical analyses included chi-square and logistic regression tests.</p> Results <p>Anti-HEV IgG was detected in 6.9% (4/58) of immunosuppressed patients, whereas no seropositivity was observed among controls (0/101; <i>p</i> = 0.0075). No cases of active or recent infection (IgM or RNA positive) were found. Anti-HEV IgG prevalence was highest among adolescents (10.0%) and patients with autoimmune diseases (28.6%), though subgroup comparisons lacked statistical significance. One IgG-positive patient had prior intravenous immunoglobulin exposure, suggesting possible passive antibody transfer.</p> Conclusions <p>This study provides the first evidence of HEV exposure in immunosuppressed pediatric patients in Argentina, revealing a significantly higher seroprevalence compared to healthy peers. Although no active infections were detected, findings support the need for targeted HEV surveillance in high-risk pediatric groups, particularly in regions with confirmed zoonotic HEV circulation. Future multicenter, longitudinal studies are warranted to evaluate clinical outcomes and guide prevention strategies.</p>

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Hepatitis E virus in immunocompromised children in Argentina: first report from a high-risk group

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月2日

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  • Julián Acosta,
  • Guillermo Costaguta,
  • Daniela Gardiol,
  • Fernando Álvarez,
  • Alejandro Costaguta,
  • Ana Laura Cavatorta

摘要

Background

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging zoonosis that can lead to chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised individuals. While HEV genotype 3 circulates in Argentina, data on pediatric populations, especially those immunosuppressed, are scarce. We hypothesized that immunosuppressed children in a region with known zoonotic HEV circulation would show higher seroprevalence compared to healthy controls.

Methods

This pilot descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a pediatric referral center in Rosario, Argentina, from 2018 to 2020. Fifty-eight immunocompromised children (aged 8 months–17 years) were enrolled, alongside 101 age-matched healthy controls. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies were detected by ELISA; HEV RNA was assessed by RT-qPCR. Statistical analyses included chi-square and logistic regression tests.

Results

Anti-HEV IgG was detected in 6.9% (4/58) of immunosuppressed patients, whereas no seropositivity was observed among controls (0/101; p = 0.0075). No cases of active or recent infection (IgM or RNA positive) were found. Anti-HEV IgG prevalence was highest among adolescents (10.0%) and patients with autoimmune diseases (28.6%), though subgroup comparisons lacked statistical significance. One IgG-positive patient had prior intravenous immunoglobulin exposure, suggesting possible passive antibody transfer.

Conclusions

This study provides the first evidence of HEV exposure in immunosuppressed pediatric patients in Argentina, revealing a significantly higher seroprevalence compared to healthy peers. Although no active infections were detected, findings support the need for targeted HEV surveillance in high-risk pediatric groups, particularly in regions with confirmed zoonotic HEV circulation. Future multicenter, longitudinal studies are warranted to evaluate clinical outcomes and guide prevention strategies.