Comparative evaluation of two immunoassays for serological diagnosis of hepatitis E.

Serological testing for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is useful for diagnosing acute hepatitis E. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of chemiluminescence immunoassay (HEV IgM; Vircell, Granada, Spain) in comparison with a manual enzyme immunoassay (Anti-HEV virus; Wantai, Beijing, China) for anti-HEV IgM detection. Seventeen HEV-RNA positive and 69 HEV-RNA negative sera were tested by both assays.

Asymptomatic Leishmania infection in blood donors from the Southern of Spain.

Objectives: To investigate the proportion of asymptomatic infection among blood donors in a region endemic for Leishmania; and to ascertain epidemiological and genetic factors associated with this condition.

Methods: We studied 1260 blood donors in the Province of Granada in the Southern Spain. After obtaining informed consent in each participant, a poll about habits, housing and contact with animals were carried out.