Frequency of HEV Antibodies in Pregnant Women and Its Association with Existent Risk Factors, Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Yousif Elnour Elsharif
Gezira Hospital for Renal Diseases and Surgery, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Khidir Osman Alfaki
Wad Medani Teaching Hospital, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Samah Abdelrahim Elawad
National Cancer Institute, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Ahmed Alsiddiq Ebraheem
Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Mohamed Magzob
Faculty of Medicine, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Abdelrahman Eldaw Mohammed
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan.
Elhadi Abdalla Ahmed *
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Gezira, Wad Medani, Sudan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an increasing global problem and high endemicity is observed in many developing countries. Pregnancy predisposes women to chronic infection and various complications.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate sero-positivity of HEV and existent risk factors among pregnant women in Gezira State, Sudan.
Methods: A cross-sectional design was followed, and a non–probability convenience sampling technique was used to collect 120 venous blood samples from pregnant women. Separated serum specimens was used for the quantitative detection of specific anti-HEV IgM and IgG by competitive ELISA method (MIKROGEN GmbH - Germany).
Results: The frequency of positive results for HEV IgG antibodies in the study population amounted to 44.2 (53/120). Of the 53 HEV IgG positive pregnant participants 47.2% (25/53) were in the third trimester period, 39.6% (21/53) had preterm labor, 39.6% (21/53) had a history of abortion and 24.5% (13/53) with jaundice. Significant association was found between HEV IgG positive women and preterm labor (p-value 0.004), and history of jaundice (p-value 0.009).
Conclusion: This preliminary study highlighted the high frequency of sero-positivity of hepatitis E virus in pregnant women in the studied area of Sudan.
Keywords: Hepatitis E, pregnant women, risk factors, ELISA, Sudan