MOLECULAR DETECTION OF HUMAN PEGIVIRUS TYPE 1 (HPgV-1) RNA AMONG BLOOD DONORS FROM PERNAMBUCO, NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Human pegivirus type 1 (HPgV-1) causes a persistent infection and shows high prevalence in the general population, including blood donors. However, detection of this virus is not included in routine blood bank screening because its clinical relevance remains uncertain. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA and to identify sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors associated with infection among blood donors at the Foundation of Hematology and Hemotherapy (HEMOPE) in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. This analytical cross-sectional study included 430 blood donors, whose data and samples were collected between January and July 2025. Data were collected through a research form and samples were obtained from the NAT laboratory of HEMOPE for HPgV-1 RNA detection by nested PCR. The prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA was 11.6% (50/430). In the univariate analysis, condom use was significantly associated with HPgV-1 positivity ( p = 0.019). After this multivariate analysis, none of the variables showed a statistically significant association. However, a trend toward association with borderline p -values was identified for absence of tattoos (OR= 0.54; 95% CI = 0.28–1.05; p = 0.068), areas outside the metropolitan region (OR= 1.99; 95% CI = 0.94–4.21; p = 0.070) and lack of condom use (OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 0.94–3.52; p = 0.075). This is the first study to evaluate the prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA and its associated factors among blood donors in Pernambuco. These findings highlight the relevance of sociodemographic and behavioral factors in the epidemiology of HPgV-1 infection.