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Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in Paraguay: First survey among blood donors.
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  • Diego M. FLICHMAN,
  • Nelson MARQUEZ,
  • Victor A. SÁNCHEZ S,
  • Andrea S. de la GÓMEZ FUENTE,
  • Liz Carolina LEÓN,
  • Diego FIGUEREDO,
  • María Mercedes ELIZALDE,
  • Alfredo Martinez,
  • Patricia Bare,
  • Federico Di Lello
Diego M. FLICHMAN
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Nelson MARQUEZ
Universidad Nacional de Asuncion Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas
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Victor A. SÁNCHEZ S
Instituto de Prevision Social
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Andrea S. de la GÓMEZ FUENTE
Instituto de Prevision Social
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Liz Carolina LEÓN
Republica del Paraguay Ministerio de Salud Publica y Bienestar Social
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Diego FIGUEREDO
Universidad Nacional de Asuncion Facultad de Ciencias Medicas

Corresponding Author:figueredodiego@hotmail.com

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María Mercedes ELIZALDE
Universidad de Buenos Aires
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Alfredo Martinez
Centro de Educacion Medica e Investigaciones Clinicas Norberto Quirno
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Patricia Bare
CONICET-Academia Nacional de Medicina Instituto de Medicina Experimental
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Federico Di Lello
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas
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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.