Hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus prevalence relates to human immunodeficiency virus infection in Japanese male blood donors

Abstract

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) has begun to spread globally among men who have sex with men (MSM). Hepatitis E virus (HEV) also may be transmitted through sexual contact among MSM. To assess the current status of these viruses among MSM in Japan, the seroprevalence of both viruses using 503 plasma samples collected between 2009 and 2018 from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive male donors who were presumed to be mainly MSM was investigated. Our results suggested that HAV may be spreading within this population, as reported elsewhere. By contrast, the spread of HEV was confirmed only among younger HIV-positive donors.