Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus Antibodies (IgG) in the Community of Rawalpindi

Abstract

Knowledge regarding the prevalence of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the general population can indicate public health and personal hygiene practices in a community. HEV spreads through the fecal-oral route and contaminates drinking water through sewage. Moreover, poverty also contributes to its prevalence in developing countries, including Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 650 blood samples taken from suspected patients of HEV in the Rawalpindi cantonment area (Pakistan) from April to November 2019 at the Department of Virology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Out of them, 444 (68.15%) were male and 206 (31.85%) were female; the detection of anti-HEV IgG antibodies was carried out using a commercial Anti-Hepatitis E virus antibody (IgG) ELISA Kit. The overall anti-HEV IgG prevalence percentages were 19.23% and 4.77% in males and females, respectively. Patients were categorized into eight groups with ages ranging between 1 and 90 years. HEV IgG seroprevalence was the highest in ages 31–40 (6.46%). The study concluded that males aged 40 or above were susceptible and infected with hepatitis E.