Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women in Ilam, West of Iran

Title:Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women in Ilam, West of Iran

Volume: 21 Issue: 5

Author(s): Azra Kenarkoohi, Shahab Falahi, Fariba ghelijie and Asad Mirzaei*

Affiliation:

• Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of ParaMedicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam,Iran

Keywords: Hepatitis E virus, pregnant women, seroprevalence, epidemiology, Ilam, Iran.

Abstract: Introduction: Hepatitis E infection is commonly known as acute and self-limiting hepatitis, and therefore, less attention is paid to it, whereas hepatitis E virus is a major cause of fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women and its infection during pregnancy is associated with maternal and fetal mortality. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in pregnant women in Ilam city is unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-HEV total and anti- HEV IgM antibodies among pregnant women in this area.

Materials and Methods: A total of 420 serum samples were collected between March 2018 and September 2019 from pregnant women, with a mean age of 29.61 years, ranging from 19 to 47 years, referred to Ilam health centers, West of Iran. Demographic data, including age and place of residence, were collected from patient records. The titers of anti-HEV total and anti-HEV IgM antibodies were measured by the ELISA method. The association between the prevalence of hepatitis E antibody and age and place of residence variables was evaluated by the chi-square test. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.

Results: In total, 18 of the 420 participants (4.3%) were positive for anti-HEV total, while 2 (0/47%) tested positive for anti-HEV immunoglobulins M (IgM). Anti-HEV status had no statistically significant association with age and place of residence.

Conclusion: The seroprevalence rate of HEV infection among pregnant women in Ilam city is relatively low. Considering that seronegative pregnant women are at risk of acquiring HEV, it is recommended that pregnant women be educated to avoid sources of HEV infection.

Cite this article as:

Kenarkoohi Azra , Falahi Shahab , ghelijie Fariba and Mirzaei Asad *, Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection Among Pregnant Women in Ilam, West of Iran, Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets 2021; 21 (5) : e270421187571 . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871526520999201103193321

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871526520999201103193321	Print ISSN 1871-5265
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 2212-3989