Z Gastroenterol 2019; 57(01): e76-e77
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1677252
5. Viral Hepatitis, Immunology
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anti-HEV humoral immunity in long term travellers from Germany to tropical regions in Asia and Africa

W Dammermann
1   Center of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
2   Department of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
K Bröker
1   Center of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
2   Department of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
S Pischke
3   1. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
C Vinnemeyer
3   1. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
S Lüth
1   Center of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 January 2019 (online)

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    Background:

    Limited data exists concerning the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies in long term travellers from Germany, who visit highly HEV endemic tropical regions in Asia and Africa. The aim of the study was to identify the seroconversion rate for HEV in travellers to highly HEV endemic countries.

    Methods:

    We analyzed the sera of 162 travellers attending Hamburg-area travel health clinics from 2017 to 2018 before and after travelling. The prevalence for IgA, IgG and/or IgM antibodies to HEV was determined. Moreover, we tested the seroprevalence for antibodies against additional tropical diseases, i.e. Zika virus (ZV), Dengue virus (DV), Chikungunya virus (CHICKV).

    Results:

    9/162 (5.6%) travellers were anti-HEV IgG+ pre-travel, whereas post-travel 10/162 (6.2%) were tested anti-HEV IgG+. 0/162 (0%) travellers showed positive anti-HEV IgM titers pre- as well as post-travel. Thus, only a single individual was exposed to HEV during his journey. No traveller produced antibodies towards ZV, i.e. 0/162 (0%) anti-ZV IgG+ and IgM+ pre-/post-travel. Regarding CHIKV, 2/162 (1.2%) travellers displayed anti-CHICKV IgG+ titers pre-travel and thus contact with CHICKV during previous journeys. Post-travel anti-CHICKV IgG+ rate remained at 2/162 (1.2%). 0/162 (0%) anti-CHICKV IgM+ titers pre- and post-travel proved no acute exposure. Anti-DV IgG+ titers were at 7/162 (4.3%) pre-travel und 9/162 (5.6%) post-travel. Thus, 2 travellers were newly exposed to DV, whereas 1/162 (0.6%) possessed high anti-DV IgM+ titers pre- and post-travel pointing towards a persisting IgM-production by B cells. None of the travellers reported any clinical symptoms post-travel.

    Conclusion:

    Long term travellers are not at significantly increased risk for HEV seroconversion. Exposure to ZV, DV and CHICKV was equally negligible, since no clinical symptoms were reported.


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