Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus in Iranian Soldiers

authors:

avatar Gholam Ali Ghorbani 1 , * , avatar Seyed Moayed Alavian 2 , avatar Ali Akbar Esfahani 2 , avatar Shervin Assari 2

Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases, Military Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Mollasadra Avenue, Vanak Square, gholamalighorbani@yahoo.com, IR-Iran
Military Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences & Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (BRCGL) & Tehran Hepatitis Center, IR-Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.7, issue 3; 123-126
article type: Research Article
received: June 5, 2007
accepted: September 20, 2007
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/tjms.10606

how to cite: Ghorbani G, Alavian S, Esfahani A, Assari S. Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis E Virus in Iranian Soldiers. Hepat Mon. 2007;7(3): 123-126. https://doi.org/10.5812/tjms.10606.

Abstract

Background and Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is recognized as a common cause of epidemic and sporadic viral hepatitis. HEV outbreaks have been documented in some military forces in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-HEV antibody in Iranian soldiers.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 800 soldiers were selected by simple random sampling in Tehran, Iran in 2006. A questionnaire of demographic data was completed and blood samples were obtained for anti-HEV IgG & IgM antibody. Data were analyzed using student t-test and chi-square using SPSS 12.

Results: All soldiers were male and their mean age was 19 ± 1.2. Education level in 553 (69.1%) of them was high school diploma or higher. Anti-HEV IgG antibody was positive in only 9 (1.1%) of them and IgM was negative in all soldiers.

Conclusions: Approximately 98% of soldiers were at risk for HEV infection and before discovering an effective vaccine, preparation of healthy drinking water and personal hygiene education should be considered for prevention of hepatitis E infection.

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