Seroepidemiological study of hepatitis E virus in different population groups

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Immunology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a significant public health concern.
• Understanding HEV seroprevalence is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against Hepatitis E virus in various Moroccan population subgroups.
• To analyze the reactivity patterns of confirmed positive and indeterminate samples using Western blot.

Main Methods:

• Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to screen 1,993 sera for HEV IgG antibodies.
• Positive EIA results were confirmed using Western blot analysis.
• Sera from healthy pregnant women, general Moroccan subjects, blood donors, children, and intravenous drug users were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Initial EIA detected HEV IgG in 3.96% of subjects, with higher rates in Moroccans and drug users (5.6%) and lower in children (1.8%).
• Western blot confirmation reduced the overall seroprevalence to 2.15%.
• Among confirmed positives, 95% reacted to SG-3 and 65% to 8-5 proteins; indeterminate samples showed similar high reactivity to SG-3 (96.3%) and 8-5 (62.9%).

Conclusions:

• The confirmed seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus IgG in the studied Moroccan population is 2.15%.
• The SG-3 and 8-5 proteins are significant targets for HEV IgG antibodies in this population.
• No statistically significant differences in seroprevalence were found between genders or age groups.