Low seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus in pregnant women in an urban area near Pretoria, South Africa.

Autor:	Simani OE; Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PO Box 173, Medunsa, Pretoria, South Africa., Seipone TP; Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PO Box 173, Medunsa, Pretoria, South Africa., Selabe G; Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PO Box 173, Medunsa, Pretoria, South Africa., Seheri LM; Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PO Box 173, Medunsa, Pretoria, South Africa., Mphahlele MJ; Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PO Box 173, Medunsa, Pretoria, South Africa., Mayaphi SH; Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, City of Tshwane, South Africa.; National Health Laboratory Service - Tshwane Academic Division (NHLS-TAD), City of Tshwane, South Africa., Steele AD; Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, PO Box 173, Medunsa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	IJID regions [IJID Reg] 2021 Dec 11; Vol. 2, pp. 70-73. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 11 (Print Publication: 2022).
DOI:	10.1016/j.ijregi.2021.12.002
Abstrakt:	Objectives: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a globally neglected health problem with a high burden in resource-poor communities. Pregnant women are at increased risk of complications. This pilot study sought to assess the seroprevalence of HEV infection in pregnant women at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, South Africa. Methods: Stored serum samples from 384 HIV-uninfected pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic were initially screened for HEV total antibody. Positive samples were further evaluated for the presence of IgG and IgM antibody isotypes, using commercial ELISA assays. HEV RNA was assessed in antibody-positive samples utilizing qRT-PCR assay. Results: The sample consisted of women with a median age of 31 years (interquartile range: 28-35 years). Total HEV antibody was detected in 12/384 (3.13%, 95% CI: 1.80-5.38) of these pregnant women. All 12 samples were IgG HEV antibody positive, but none tested positive for IgM antibody or for HEV RNA, demonstrating a lack of current or recent exposure. Conclusions: Our study revealed a low seroprevalence of HEV among pregnant women from an urban area north of Pretoria. This observation warrants further attention to the circulation of HEV in this population, and a greater understanding of the epidemiology of the infection in South Africa. (© 2021 The Authors.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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