Author/Authors :
Parsa Nahad Mehdi نويسنده Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine and infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Ahvaz, IR Iran , Kiani Hadis نويسنده Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Kiani Hadis , Zandi Milad نويسنده 1Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , Bavi Akbar نويسنده Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , Nejati Mehrab نويسنده Department of Microbiology, Shahre Babak Azad Universiry, Shahre Babak, Iran. , Rabie Rudsari Mehdi نويسنده Department of Microbiology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. , Dehghani Mohammad Amin نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Toxicology Research Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , Ramezani Ali نويسنده 1Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , Khosravi Seftejani Sara نويسنده Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. , Omidi Nahid نويسنده Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , Nikravesh Hojatolla نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy and Toxicology Research Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. , Moradpour Seyed Arash نويسنده Departent of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract :
Background and Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is considered as one of the common causes of acute viral hepatitis in the world, particularly in the developing countries. It also causes fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women. Although HEV infection in Iran is endemic, there are numerous reports of epidemics caused by this infection in this part of the world. This study aimed to determine seroprevalence of HEV among patients with acute hepatitis symptoms in Ahvaz, Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study patients were selected based on laboratory findings related to acute hepatitis including elevated serum bilirubin levels, markedly elevated levels of liver enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and mild increases in alkaline phosphatase activity.The plasma samples were tested for IgM/IgG Hepatitis E antibody (anti-HEV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Out of 241 study patients, 125 (51.9%) were male and 116 (48.1%) female. The mean age±SD was 31.53±17.17 years. The results indicated 27.4% prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies among patients with acute hepatitis in Ahvaz.
Conclusions: In regard with the findings, HEV can play an important role in incidence of hepatitis. The study needs to be conducted in high-risk groups and in general populatios.
