Author/Authors :
Bineshian, Farahnaz Department of Parasitology and Mycology - Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran , Dalvand, Najmeh Department of Microbiology - Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran , Hosseini, Masoud Department of Microbiology - Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran , Sharifi, Zohreh Blood Transfusion Research Center - High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: The main transmission route of hepatitis E virus (HEV) is fecal-oral by contaminated water and food. Besides, it can
be transmitted through infected blood of persons with subclinical infection.
Objectives: The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HEV infection as an emerging virus among thalassemic patients.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 110 thalassemia patientswhowere living in Tehran Province were selected. All serum samples
were assessed for the presence of total anti-HEV antibodies (IgG and IgM). AfterRNAextraction from sera, cDNA was synthesized, and
RT-PCR was used to determine the HEV-RNA.
Results: The results of the ELISA test showed that 4.5% of thalassemia patients were positive for anti-HEV Ab. Also, the prevalence of
HEV-RNA was 0.0% among thalassemia patients.
Conclusions: Our findings may confirm that the risk of HEV infection via blood transmission among thalassemia patients is low in
Iran. However, to prevent the possibility of HEV transmission, precautionary measures should be considered in blood recipients.
