Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Title abbreviation: Adv Clin Exp Med
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ISSN 1899–5276 (print)
ISSN 2451-2680 (online)
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Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

2018, vol. 27, nr 3, March, p. 351–355

doi: 10.17219/acem/65787

Publication type: original article

Language: English

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Exposure to hepatitis E virus, hepatitis A virus and Borrelia spp. infections in forest rangers from a single forest district in western Poland

Maciej Bura1,A,B,C,D,E,F, Alicja Bukowska2,A,B,E, Michał Michalak3,C,D, Aleksandra Bura4,B,C,D, Mariusz J. Nawrocki5,6,B,D, Marek Karczewski7,A,C,E, Iwona Mozer-Lisewska1,E,F

1 Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immunodeficiencies, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

2 Regional Blood Center in Poznań, Poland

3 Department of Computer Science and Statistics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

4 Department of Infectious Diseases, Jozef Strus Multidisciplinary Municipal Hospital in Poznań, Poland

5 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

6 Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

7 Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

Abstract

Background. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging problem in developed countries. At least 2 zoonotic genotypes of the virus (HEV-3 and HEV-4) infect human beings. There are some data suggesting that forest rangers (FRs) can be at a higher risk of contact with HEV.
Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of HEV exposure markers in FRs from a single forest district in Greater Poland in relation to anti-HAV (hepatitis A virus) IgG, and anti-Borrelia spp. IgM and IgG antibodies.
Material and Methods. In total, 138 participants (48 FRs and 90 blood donors – BDs) were tested for anti-HEV IgM and IgG (EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG, Luebeck, Germany) and 96 individuals (48 FRs and 48 BDs) were tested for anti-HAV IgG (ARCHITECT immunoassays, Abbott Laboratories, Wiesbaden, Germany); anti-Borrelia IgM and IgG (EUROIMMUN kits) were assessed in FRs only.
Results. Anti-HEV markers were detected in 3 participants (2.2%; IgM in 1 FR, IgG in 2 BDs), less frequently than anti-HAV (16 out of 96 individuals, about 17%; FRs 19% vs BDs 15%) or anti-Borrelia antibodies (18 out of 48 individuals, 37.5%) (p < 0.0001 for both). Older study participants (≥45 years of age) were more frequently HAV-seropositive (29% vs 4% of the younger individuals; p = 0.0012).
Conclusion. We failed to unequivocally prove HEV exposure in FRs. The HAV seroprevalence in this study paralleled the situation in the general population. Exposure to Borrelia spp. in FRs was common.

Key words

hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, Borrelia, seroprevalence, Poland

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