Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in Paraguay: First
survey among blood donors.
Abstract
Introduction: Hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) remain to pose a substantial
global health burden. This study aims to estimate the seroprevalence of
anti-HAV IgG and anti-HEV IgG antibodies among blood donors in Paraguay,
a region with limited available data on these infections. Material and
Methods: A total of 452 serum samples were collected from blood donors
across five Paraguayan regions from March to May 2023. Participants
completed a questionnaire and underwent eligibility screening. Serum was
analyzed for anti-HAV IgG and anti-HEV IgG antibodies using
immunoassays, and data were processed in IBM SPSS 23.0, setting
statistical significance at p<0.05. Results: Overall, 68.1% of
donors tested positive for anti-HAV IgG, with higher prevalence in older
age groups (p<0.001) and significant regional differences
(p<0.001). Notably, a low seroprevalence was found in the 18-25
age group (36.4%), highlighting a potential gap in immunity. In
contrast, anti-HEV IgG was detected in 6.0% of samples, with no
significant differences observed across age groups or regions, where
prevalence ranged from 0% to 11.1% across different departments. Men
exhibited a non-significant trend toward higher anti-HEV IgG
seroprevalence compared to women (p=0.082). Conclusions: High anti-HAV
IgG seroprevalence in older donors and low coverage among younger
adults, suggesting the need to expand HAV vaccination efforts. The
relatively low HEV seroprevalence in Paraguay aligns with regional data
and may reflect recent introduction or limited transmission of the
virus. These results provide a valuable epidemiological baseline for
guiding future public health interventions and vaccination strategies in
Paraguay.