Study on the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus infection in pregnant women referring to Imam Khomeini general hospital in Ahvaz

Background:

Regarding to fecal- oral transmission of hepatitis E virus and risk of fulminant hepatitis in the third trimester of pregnancy, the aim of the present study was to determine seroprevalence of HEV in pregnant women with regard to age, level of education, trimester of pregnancy and residency.

Material and methods:

A total of 418 serum samples were collected from January 2010 to January 2011. All pregnant women filled out the questionnaire form. Serum samples were examined for anti-HEV IgG and anti- HEV IgM using ELISA method.

Results:

From 418 women, 22 cases were positive for anti-HEV IgG (5.26%) and in one woman (0.23%) anti- HEV IgM was positive. In the age groups of 30-40 and 20-30 years, the seropositivity for anti-HEV IgG was 8.6% and 2.5%, respectively. In group with higher age the positive cases of anti-HEV IgG was higher than in the other group. The rate of positivity of anti-HEV IgG in pregnant women with low level of education was 11.4% whereas 3% in university educated women. There was a significant difference between seropositivity of anti-HEV IgG and the trimester of pregnancy. The most of anti-HEV IgG positive were occurred in the third trimester of pregnancy (8.6%).Out of this 22 anti-HEV IgG positive cases 4.4% were living in urban and 6.3% were in rural areas.

Background:

Regarding to fecal- oral transmission of hepatitis E virus and risk of fulminant hepatitis in the third trimester of pregnancy, the aim of the present study was to determine seroprevalence of HEV in pregnant women with regard to age, level of education, trimester of pregnancy and residency.

Material and methods:

A total of 418 serum samples were collected from January 2010 to January 2011. All pregnant women filled out the questionnaire form. Serum samples were examined for anti-HEV IgG and anti- HEV IgM using ELISA method.

Results:

From 418 women, 22 cases were positive for anti-HEV IgG (5.26%) and in one woman (0.23%) anti- HEV IgM was positive. In the age groups of 30-40 and 20-30 years, the seropositivity for anti-HEV IgG was 8.6% and 2.5%, respectively. In group with higher age the positive cases of anti-HEV IgG was higher than in the other group. The rate of positivity of anti-HEV IgG in pregnant women with low level of education was 11.4% whereas 3% in university educated women. There was a significant difference between seropositivity of anti-HEV IgG and the trimester of pregnancy. The most of anti-HEV IgG positive were occurred in the third trimester of pregnancy (8.6%).Out of this 22 anti-HEV IgG positive cases 4.4% were living in urban and 6.3% were in rural areas.