Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus among Blood Donors in Omdurman Locality

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection among blood donors attending Blood Bank department at Omdurman Teaching Hospital during the period from April to July 2014. A total of ninety subjects (n = 90) were included in this study. The blood donors ages range from 22 to 50 and all of them were males. From the study participants, serum samples were obtained and personal and clinical data were collected and tested for HEV IgM and IgG antibody using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Out of the 90 blood donors tested, 26.7% and 7.8% were HEV IgG and IgM positive, respectively. Subjects were divided into two age groups (≤ 31 years and > 31 years) in order to evaluate the influence of age on HEV seropositivity. From the above finding this study revealed that there was significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two age groups on HEV IgG seropositivity. Also this study concluded that, there was high percentage of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among blood donors, and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the residence and HEV seropositivity. Since about 7.8% of blood donors are seropositive for HEV IgM, it would be very useful to screen the blood donors for HEV to avoid the transmission of HEV to the patients. The use of HEV vaccine is recommended to decrease the transmission of infection.