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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Mar 22, 2022; 13(2): 50-58
Published online Mar 22, 2022. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v13.i2.50
Risk assessment of hepatitis E transmission through tissue allografts
Rafael Villalba, Vicente Mirabet
Rafael Villalba, Center for Blood Transfusion, Tissues and Cells, Córdoba 14004, Spain
Vicente Mirabet, Cell and Tissue Bank, Centro de Transfusión de Valencia, Valencia 46014, Spain
Author contributions: Villalba R and Mirabet V contributed equally to this work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Vicente Mirabet, PhD, Senior Scientist, Cell and Tissue Bank, Centro de Transfusión de Valencia, Avenida del Cid, 65-A, Valencia 46014, Spain. mirabet_vic@gva.es
Received: March 17, 2021
Peer-review started: March 17, 2021
First decision: May 1, 2021
Revised: May 6, 2021
Accepted: January 25, 2022
Article in press: January 25, 2022
Published online: March 22, 2022
Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a small non-enveloped single stranded RNA virus whose genotypes 3 and 4 have been associated with zoonotic transmission in industrialized countries. HEV infection is considered the main cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. In some cases, transfusion of blood components or organ transplantation have been reported as the source of infection. We have conducted a literature review on the risk of transmission through cell and tissue allografts. Although no case was found, measures to control this risk should be taken when donor profile (based upon geographical and behavioural data) recommended it. Issues to be considered in donor screening and tissue processing to assess and to reduce the risk of HEV transmission are approached.

Keywords: Hepatitis E, Tissue allograft, Risk assessment, Disease transmission, Donor screening, Bioburden reduction

Core Tip: This manuscript provide a novel perspective of the mode of transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV). HEV is mainly transmitted via fecal-oral route, but in recent years other transmission routes have been reported, including blood-borne transmission. The processing of tissue allografts in duly accredited tissue banks provides safe and efficient products.