Author/Authors :
Taremi, M. shahid beheshti university of medical sciences - Research Centre for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, تهران, ايران , Gachkar, L. shahid beheshti university of medical sciences - Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research, تهران, ايران , MahmoudArabi, S. shahid beheshti university of medical sciences - Research Centre for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, تهران, ايران , Kheradpezhouh, M. shahid beheshti university of medical sciences - Research Centre for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, تهران, ايران , Khoshbaten, M. tabriz university of medical sciences - Drug Applied Research Centre, ايران
Abstract :
Serum samples from 399 voluntary male blood donors were tested for anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) IgG during July and August 2004 at a blood transfusion centre in Tabriz city. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was 7.8% (95% CI: 5.2–10.4). Risk factors for infection included age and a low educattional level. Seroprevalence increased significantly with age, from 3.3% in subjects under 30 years of age to 37.5% in individuals 50 years and over. Illiterate individuals were at significantly higher risk for infection than educated persons. The high seropositive rate among our male blood donors is compatible with endemicity of HEV in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
