Acute hepatitis E virus infection in adults, Cayenne, French Guiana, 2015–2022

• Published in: Infectious diseases now (Online) Vol. 55; no. 5; p. 105087
• Main Authors: de Colnet, Clotilde, Aboikoni, Alolia, Nacher, Mathieu, Epelboin, Loïc, Michaud, Céline, Barbry, Alexia, Izopet, Jacques, Le Turnier, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.08.2025
• Subjects: Acute Disease - epidemiology; Adult; Aged; Female; French Guiana; French Guiana - epidemiology; Hepatitis Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis E - diagnosis; Hepatitis E - epidemiology; Hepatitis E - virology; Hepatitis E virus; Hepatitis E virus - genetics; Hepatitis E virus - immunology; Hepatitis E virus - isolation & purification; Humans; Immunoglobulin M - blood; Incidence; Infectious Disease; Male; Middle Aged; Physical Therapy; Retrospective Studies; RT-PCR; Underdiagnosis; Young Adult; French Guiana; French Guiana; Underdiagnosis; RT-PCR; Hepatitis E virus
• ISSN: 2666-9919; 2666-9919
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idnow.2025.105087

•French Guiana may be conducive to hepatitis virus, yet few data exist.•From 2015 to 2022 among 934 tested individuals, only 12 had positive anti-HEV IgM.•RT-PCR was rarely performed, and no results were positive.•While no fulminant hepatitis occurred, there were neurological manifestations in two patients.•Earlier and more extensive application of PCR would help to improve diagnosis. French Guiana (FG), a French overseas territory located in the Amazon region, is characterized by a high level of precariousness, which may be conducive to hepatitis E virus (HEV) transmission, but no recent relevant data exist. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the incidence of acute HEV infection diagnosed at Cayenne Hospital, FG between 2015 and 2022. Among 934 tested individuals, 12 had positive anti-HEV IgM (positivity rate of 1.28 % CI95 [0.66–2.23]). RT-PCR was rarely performed and no results was positive. Median age was 41 years and half of the subjects were female. No fulminant hepatitis occurred. Neurological manifestations were reported in two patients. Acute forms of HEV infection were rarely diagnosed during the study period. Earlier and more extensive use of RT-PCR could help to better understand the epidemiology of acute HEV infection. The modes of transmission and genotypes of HEV in FG remain uncertain.